David GOMBE
The anticipated central edition of Batball open came to a close on Sunday evening with Akasumagizi emerging winners after clean sweeping day two games at the tournament held in Entebbe. Akasumagizi began their campaign with three group game defeats on Saturday, but managed to regroup to put up a good show the following day, especially in the final, with a 25 run win against Kalooli.
Besides the dramatic and comic shows in the last two games of the tournament that cost the respective teams such as Naddibanga who looked favorites of the competition, the boys played good cricket with joy in all nine games.
“It has been a successful edition that has seen the players showcase their talent to the whole world since all the games have been broadcasted live on Batball.tv, and it’s a tournament that is good for the development of the game of cricket in Uganda,” said Paul Kaheru, Chairman Local Organizing Committee.
This has been the fourth edition of the Batball Open after East, Nile, and North which were recently played in the respective regions and cities by the same age bracket(Boys) in the same format of ten overs a side and most especially the social impact of fighting against AIDS has been so key throughout the whole tournament.
“We at Batball Uganda Limited are excited that many people are starting to understand our objectives, with Roke Telkom and India Julis joining the cause as new partners. Of course, we wouldn’t have pulled it off without the help of our immediate partner, the Uganda cricket Association, said Martin Ondeko, COO of Batball Uganda Limited.
“This not a one-off tournament, but one which will be happening every year to enable the young players to get a chance to compete and showcase their talents to the whole world,” added Martin Ondeko.
The best 16 Batball Open Central edition players will join the respective best players in the other three regions (Nile, East, and North) to represent their regions at the Inter-Regional tournament called Batball X in June this year.
The focus now shifts to the last regional tournament that will be held in the Western region of Uganda next month in the same format under the same rules.
Tournament results
Day 1
Kalooli won 9 by against Ensega
Naddibanga won by 10 wickets against
Naddibanga won by 8 wickets against Akasumagizi
Kalooli won by 7 wickets against Akasumagizi
Ensaga won 30 runs against Akasumagizi
Day 2
Kalooli won by 6 wickets aginst Naddibanga
Akasumagizi won by 9 wickets against 9 wickets against Ensega
Akasumagizi won by 11 runs against Naddibanga
Akasumagizi won by 25 runs against Kalooli.
Individual Awards:
Best Batter – Christopher Kidega (Akasumagizi)
Best Bowler – Balidawa Ali (Naddibanga)
Best Fielder – Bosco Akena (Kalooli)
Best Wicket Keeper – Abdallah Shakur (Akasumagizi)
MVP – Jaffer Ochaya (Akasumagizi)