Challengers humble Tornado Bee

UCA National Men's Cricket League

Division 1

Challengers 160/10 Tornado Bee 115/10

(Challengers win by 45 runs)

Kutchi 279/10 Wanderers 145/10

(Kutchi win by 134 runs)

Division 2

Africa 194/10 Premier 173/2

(Africa win by 21 runs)

Division 3

Strikers 184/10 Pirates 136/10

(Strikers win 48 runs)

Henry Senyondo and Aneef Mohammed came to the fore as the Challengers condemned champions Tornado Bee to their first defeat of the season, taking four wickets apiece en route to a 45-run win in the UCA division 1 men's cricket league Sunday at Entebbe.

Senyondo and Mohammed claimed 4/16 and 4/20 respectively in 10 overs apiece to help the Challengers defend a relatively paltry 160 runs (in 47.2 overs) against Tornado Bee's versatile batting line up.

Ivan Thawithemwira, who won the toss and elected to bat, and Naseer Ahmed had spearheaded the Challengers' batting with 34 and 25 runs respectively, with John Mpande taking 3/21 in seven overs and  Deus Muhumuza 2/23 overs in 10 overs for Tornado Bee.

But the Challengers score was anything but off-putting for Roger Mukasa and Co. Or so it seemed.

The three-time defending champions collapsed to 115 all out in 39.2 overs, with Mukasa and Charles Waiswa limited to a team-best 39 and 12 runs respectively as Senyondo and Aneef caused havoc. Skipper Thamwithemwira had told the New Vision that this was a game the Challengers had to win to be considered serious title contenders.

Defeat to KICC in their previous game had left the Challengers staring at the spectre of falling behind Tornado Bee in the 2016 title race just a few steps in. But the Challengers handled the pressure and the reward was their maiden league victory over the most dominant team in Ugandan cricket.

Safe to say, the race is on.