Kololo SS ends Jinja’s Girls Cricket Week run
Kololo SS celebrate their first ever national title soon after toppling Kololo SS by seven wickets in the final. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO
KAMPALA. Kololo Secondary School beat defending champions Jinja SS by seven wickets to end the latter’s three-year dominance as they won their maiden Pepsi Girls Schools Cricket Week title at Lugogo Oval on Tuesday.
Having lost out in the previous two finals to the same opposition, the Jackson Ogwang-tutored Kololo paid back the faith in front of a sizable partisan crowd with a scintillating display.
“After losing in the previous two finals, I knew things would be different this year,” ICC Level Two coach Ogwang told Daily Monitor as he held back his emotions. “Whatever you are seeing now is a result of three months of hard work.”
With six new kids on the block including Kalsum Rashidah, Ogwang is keen to watch his girls defend the title next year. “The new faces in our side will even be more experienced next year. And the fact that they can easily access Lugogo, we will be able to fill Patricia Munguryek’s void (senior six finalist) as we seek to defend our title.” he said.
However, Jinja coach Habibu Mugalula opined else. “I wouldn’t say we were beaten. “Our mistakes cost us the trophy. I know we shall be victors again next year,” said Mugalula.
Having defeated a greatly improved Kyebambe Girls’ side in the morning semi-final, Mugalula’s side relied on tournament MVP Damalie Busingye (36* off 51) and Claire Mushakamba (23 off 34) to set 92 for 3 in 20 overs.
The score would have been far from Kololo’s reach but sequential fumbling in the field put paid to Jinja’s chances. As Jinja continued to miss out on taking catches (seven) and run-outs (five), Kololo skipper Saidat Kemigisha, also tournament’s best batter, led by example with a steady knock of 26 off 41 balls.
And when they needed 15 off 18, Munguryek’s, who was featuring in her last tournament, signed out on a high with a breezy 15-ball 14 including two boundaries that sealed the memorable victory with eight balls to spare.
PEPSI GIRLS CRICKET WEEK
Results - Finals
Jinja SS 92/3 Kololo SS 93/3
INDIVIDUAL HONOURS
Player of Series: Damalie Busingye (Jinja SS) 153 runs
Best Batter: Saidat Kemigisha (Kololo SS) 217 runs in 7 innings
Best Bowler: Evelyn Anyipo (Olila HS) 14 wickets
Best Fielder: Aisha Kyeru (St. James SS) 9 dismissals
Best Wicket-keeper: Rebecca Mpumwire (Kyebambe) 4 dismissals
SELECTED BEST 16 PLAYERS KOLOLO SS: Saidat Kemigisha, Rashida Kalsum, Jane Francis Baluka, Sadick Shakira, Patricia Munguryek, Patricia Malmekia JINJA SS: Immaculate Nakisuyi, Damalie Busingye, Stephanie Nampiima OLILA HS: Everlyn Anyipo, Joyce Mary Apiyo KILEMBE SS: Julia Kalungi BUSOGA HS: Mary Akwi ST JAMES: Grace Nabasa MASAKA SS: Rachael Ntono KYEBAMBE: Rebecca Mpumwiire Coach: Grace Mutyagaba Team manaGER: Franklyn Najjumba
