Kyobe ton lights up opening weekend
What you need to know:
On a successful day for batsmen baptized ‘Derby Day’, there were nine 30-odd scores and four half centuries but all of them paled in comparison with Kyobe’s scintillating ton of 119.
KAMPALA- Challengers opening batsman Arthur Kyobe is a man on a mission.
A night after he was crowned Nile Special-Uspa Male Cricketer of the Year at Imperial Royale Hotel and proceeded to break his pre-match routine by joining other winners to break a leg in Guvnor, the left hander woke up in destructive mood to hog the limelight on the opening weekend of the National 50-over League on Sunday.
On a successful day for batsmen baptized ‘Derby Day’, there were nine 30-odd scores and four half centuries but all of them paled in comparison with Kyobe’s scintillating ton of 119.
The 25-year-old, controversially dropped from the national team that represented Uganda at the World Cup Qualifiers in New Zealand in January, continued to silence his critics in a 112-ball knock that was littered with nine boundaries and five meaty sixes.
When Kyobe departed in the 42nd over after being caught in the deep mid-wicket region off the bowling of Wanderers captain Hamu Kayondo, Challengers had 250 for 5 and well on course for a sizeable 303/9 that made certain their 153-run win at Kyambogo Oval. “It’s nice to start like this,” said a beaming Kyobe, who celebrated by raising his bat and helmet towards his team’s dugout like his outspoken hero Chris Gayle of Jamaica and West Indies.
“The ball was coming off nicely in the middle. But credit also goes to my teammates. They urged me on and gave support with good partnerships.” Kayondo’s unbeaten 100-ball 83 couldn’t save Wanderers’ pitiful day.
National 50-over league
SUNDAY RESULTS -
DIVISION I
Tornado B 253/10 Tornado 173/10
Challengers 303/9 Wanderers 150/10
Nile 112/10 Charity TF 115/5
DIVISION II
Warriors 139/10 KICC 140/4
JACC 73/10 Mwiri 74/3
