Cricket: Patidar CC continue their silent title run

UCA 50-Over National League

Results

Division 1

Tornado Bee v Kutchi

(Win awarded Tornado Bee on technicality)

Tornado 142/10 Patidar 143/7

(Patidar win by three wickets)

Division 2

Charity 205 ACC 114/9

(Charity win by 91 runs)

Damani 342/5 Jinja SS 130/10

(Damani win by 212 runs)

As Tornado Bee went top of the UCA 50-Over National League for the first time this season, Patidar CC continued their silent match up the standings.

Three-time reigning champs Tornado Bee were awarded a victory over the Kutchi Tigers Sunday at Lugogo after the latter were penalised for fielding a player not on the official team list.

The player in question is Shailesh Halai, who appeared on the list as Hitesh Hilai. The real Hitesh Hilai was already on the list, meaning the name appeared twice. So when Shailesh edged Charles Waiswa's bouncer over long stop in the 34th over to leave Kutchi at 140/4, the official match scorer Gertrude Chandiru realised the error and accordingly summoned the match umpires Patrick Makumbi and Phillip Kahuna.

After the officials were alerted, they resolved to award Tornado Bee the victory despite the pleas of both captains. The law is indeed the law and Tornado Bee were sent top even though as their captain Jeremy KibuukaMusoke revealed, "We would have preferred to play the game and win the bonus point".

Meanwhile, Patidar recorded their third win of the season after a three-wicket victory over Tornado at Kyambogo. Emmanuel Isaneez and Ivan Baidhu claimed three-wickets apiece for Patidar, who bowled out Tornado for 142 in 29.4 overs. David Wabwire scored a game-best 45 runs for Tornado, who have lost four of six, while Brian Adriko added 37 off 38.

Hardick Patel and Isaanez scored 31 and 25 runs respectively for Patidar, who are now fourth with three wins in five matches, including a three-match winning streak.

The weekend's century came from Arnold Otwani, who smashed 126 off 124 as Aziz Damani (342/5) thumped Jinja SS by 212 runs to maintain their unbeaten start to the Division 2 campaign.