Innocent Ndawula
31 May 2011
Lugogo — One journalist jokingly asked Charity Trust Fund Cricket Club captain Jonathan Ssebanja after his side’s third straight win in the ongoing Division One National Cricket League on Sunday, “are you the new Premier?”
The journalist was likening Charity, who had subjected Tornado to a four-wicket loss, their third consecutive of the season, to Premier. Premier picked up all silverware last season before imploding into oblivion. But Ssebanja, a left-arm opening bowler who has had a couple of stints with the national team, never offered much in reply. He just smiled back coyly at the reporter and gave his honest opinion later. “We are still working hard at all aspects of our game. All our wins have been hard earned. Our batting is yet to click. The bowlers have not yet found the rhythm to hit good areas consistently and our fielding still has some lapses,” he said.
And true to his word, Charity, who edged Tornado B by two runs a fortnight ago, are no Premier if you put the two squad’s depths and quality into consideration. Premier boasted of 10 national stars but Charity have only three junior players that have not flirted much with the national team. But Sunday’s victory that ensured they remain unbeaten will send shivers down the spines of all their rivals, who must now view them as emerging forces. Against Tornado, Charity rallied to bowl out Tornado from a position of strength at 73 for 3 to 129 all out.
Ephraim Batumbuze (34) and Richard Okia (23) top scored as Charity medium-pacer John Tumusiime (4/37) and spinner Derrick Bakunzi (2/9) proved too much. The chase brought out a lot of maturity from Charity opening batsman Abdallah Izak Lubega (68*) who carried his bat after experienced Frank Nsubuga (3/31) had reduced the youngsters to 43 for 4 at one stage. Bakunzi sealed the triumph with a stylish boundary-filled and unbeaten 20.
Results – Division I
Tornado 130/10Charity 131/6
Patidar 125/10 KICC 113/10
Division II
JICC 26/10 Mwiri 28/1
Mak 165/10 ACC 166/7
Warriors 90/10 SKLPS 91/5
AllAfrica – All the Time