Cricketers relive Tikolo’s wish

Good inninings: Man of Match Hamu Kayondo (left) walks off after scoring an unbeaten half century of 56 in Uganda’s 9-wicket win over Surat District XI alongside Dinesh Nakrani, who stroked 16, at the Sanjay Farm Oval in Chikhil, Gujarat yesterday. Photo by Innocent Ndawula

What you need to know:

  • Right-hand opener Kayondo ensured that Uganda made it a clinical four-in-four with his second half ton of 56 runs not out off 46 balls as Tikolo’s troops chased down the target of 116 for the loss of one wicket in just 15.3 overs

CHIKHIL. Coach Steve Tikolo demanded the standout individual performers from the Qatar Leg of this two-in-one tour of Uganda to Asia not to rest on their laurels.
And the legendary Kenyan tutor’s wish is being replicated full throttle.
The trio of Deus Muhumuza, Simon Ssesazi and Hamu Kayondo, who picked up Man of Match (MOM) awards in the five-match Bilateral Cricket Series against Qatar, have continued to show more hunger on the turf and once again made it to the dais here at the Sanjay Farm Oval.

All-rounder Muhumuza with a breezy 35 runs was the first as the Ugandan side defeated ND Warriors XI in the opener, stylish left-hander Ssesazi stroked a half century against Skipper XI Gujarat in the second game whereas U-19 skipper Kenneth Waiswa threw a cat amongst the pigeons with a late and lusty 33 not out off 29 balls as an U-19 packed Ugandan side managed to just skip over the finish line against the Surat District U-19 by one wicket.

Right-hand opener Kayondo ensured that Uganda made it a clinical four-in-four with his second half ton of 56 runs not out off 46 balls as Tikolo’s troops chased down the target of 116 for the loss of one wicket in just 15.3 overs
“Results matter at every tour and winning becomes a habit over time,” said Tikolo soon after the nine-wicket win against Surat District Cricket Association XI.
“Obviously the guys are not playing the same way as they did while in Doha. The batsmen are trying to apply themselves better against even better spinners and we wouldn’t have got this exposure if we had stayed in Kampala.”

Surat District C.A XI expertly shuffled five spinners, who bowled different exciting variations and duly tested Uganda’s batsmen. But captain Roger Mukasa (42 off 33) constructed an 89-run opening stand in just 11.3 overs with Kayondo to lay a platform for left-hander Dinesh Nakrani, who sealed the match with 16 quick-fire runs including two boundaries to maintain the Cricket Cranes unblemished record.