Tornado warns local rivals

By Norman Katende

TORNADO stand-in captain Grace Mutyagaba is of the view that their national T-20 cricket league win is a sign of recovery for the former giants.

“We just needed some reorganisation and we have started the mission,” said Mutyagaba, whose team dwarfed Charity in just 3.5 overs to win the final by 9 wickets at Lugogo on Sunday.

This was without four regular starters in team captain Frank Nsubuga, Benjamin Musoke, Asadu Seyigga and Arthur Kyobe, who are on national duty in Dubai.

“We boosted our game by bringing in the Suleiman brothers (Irishad and Abdallah) and Zubeir Tembo. We are already reaping from that,” added Mutyagaba, whose team played.

But it was the old guns in Richard Okia (5/15) and Raymond Otim (2/7) that ensured that no Charity batsman finished with double digit runs.

Okia claimed the wickets of Derrick Okumu (06), Abraham Lema (00), Jackson Ogwang (06) and Vincent Twesigye (03). He crowned it with a return catch of Lawrence Ssempijja (06).

Otim run out Shema Mukaaya (06) and Simon Ssessaazi (00) before bowling John Tumusiime (01) as Charity fell for 35.

Even when Tornado’s opener Dhaval Patel (11) was caught by Ssesazi off an Alema delivery, Abu Sseguya (24*) finished it off.

Facing Lema with 12 runs needed, he sliced his first delivery for a boundary hit the full toss for a six before a wide four saw Tornado claim their first title after three trophyless seasons.