Morning game; Soroti City won by 1 run
Soroti City 106/8
Janet Mbabazi 46
Irene Alumo 3/17
Jinja SS 105/8
Whitney Nassuna 24
Rashida Tikabula 4/12
Afternoon game; Soroti City won by 67 runs
Soroti City 137/4
Phionah Kulume 79
Patricia Timong 4/7
Jinja SS 70 all out
Stephanie Nampiina 27
Annet Anume 2/12
Soroti City Cricket Club were the big winners of the day on Saturday as match day four in the National Women’s T20 League rounded off at various grounds.
Not only did they beat Jinja SS in a double header played at the Jinja SS Cricket Oval, they got the much needed help from neighbors Olila who tamed a giant in Aziz Damani in Lugogo.
Soroti and Damani went into Saturday games level on points, but the latter was leading the table due to a better net run rate.
For Soroti to reclaim the top spot, Damani had to lose at least one game and Soroti win both. Soroti won both their games, and their neighbors did them a huge favor in beating the defending champions.
The day, for Soroti ended with them reclaiming the summit, but those victories especially in the morning were not straightforward.
Like the Lugogo games, the morning game in Jinja went down to the wire! Soroti batted first and put a total of 106 runs. Janet Mbabazi had 46 of those and Phionah Kulume 21.
It was a protectable score, but Jinja SS did not shy away from the fight. Whitney Nassuna (24), Mary Namiro (21), Rukia Namuleme (18) and Stephanie Nampiina (16) ensured the final Over would be the decider.
Habib Mugalula’s team needed 11 runs from that Over, and despite Patricia Apolot running out Hope Mbeiza in the 19.3, it was still not safe for Soroti because Namiiro followed that run out with a four.
Four runs were now needed from the last two balls, however, Jinja SS lost it when, Patricia Kamatenesi, in spite of completing a run, was run out. Caroline Abalakake who faced the final ball couldn’t get the three runs they needed. It was a sigh for Soroti who won the game by 1 run.
Wilfred Ogwang’s troops needed no sweat in the afternoon game though as they won it by 67 runs. In this game, Kulume knocked an unbeaten 79. Her partnership with Sandra Acwao recorded 99 runs as Soroti scored 137/4.
Jinja SS’ attempt to chase the target ended in the 18th Over when they were bowled out with only 70 runs. Patricia Timong ran things here as she picked 4 wickets.
Irene Alumo had one wicket in this game, but she ended the day with four having claimed three in the first game. Jinja SS’ Rashida Tikabula also ended the day with four wickets. She plucked those in the morning game.
The win coupled with Aziz Damani’s losses to Olila, mean Soroti City go top of the table. They now have 14 points, that’s four ahead of Damani placed second.
Jinja SS drop down to sixth, this owning to Wanderers’ wins against Tornado Bees. Wanderers moved back to the fourth position while Olila despite their wins stay third.
