Tikolo demands batting show from outfits

KAMPALA. Steve Tikolo does not mince his words. Despite his Uganda XI side ‘taking the game to the wire’ against Zimbabwean top outfit Takashinga before succumbing to a three-wicket loss at Lugogo Oval yesterday, Tikolo was candid in his post-match assessment.

After Davis Karashani lost the toss and was asked to bat by his opposite Roy Kaia, Uganda limped to 110 all out in 34.2 overs and made the Zimbabweans toil for every run losing seven wickets before eventually reaching home in 32 overs.
“We did not do well,” said Tikolo. “Our batsmen must start putting up their hands and take responsibility. We cannot survive if we continue collapsing to 30 for 4. And even when we recovered to 70 for 4, the guys that followed gave away their wickets.

“Those were soft dismissals. I have asked them to rectify and make sure they address the batting tomorrow. One of the top order batsmen must bat through.”
Veteran wicketkeeper Lawrence Ssematimba (30 off 49) was the only batsman who did not look out of place against a polished Takashinga pace-bowling arsenal and parsimonious spinning attack. The trident of Jonathan Ssebanja (13 off 26), Deus Muhumuza (12 off 34) and Roger Mukasa (12 off 19) were, however, guilty of getting starts and not converting.
Needing just over two runs per over, it was supposed to be smooth sailing for the visitors’ star-studded batting line up.

But Karashani had other ideas, rotating his bowlers with wit to leave the opposition reeling at 29 for 3 in 12 overs at the lunch break.
But the Ugandans shot themselves in the foot. Six catches were put down thanks to the butter fingers of Ssematimba (2), Hamu Kayondo (2), Karashani (1) and Mukasa (1). Across town at the University Oval in Kyambogo, Uganda Select made merry with an emphatic 152-run win over Kenya XI. Skipper Brian Masaba led from the front with a half-century of 62 after opener Arnold Otwani (59 off 71) had laid the platform for the homeboys’ score of 282 for 8 in 50 overs.

“This is the way it is supposed to be,” Tikolo said about the clinical display of Masaba’s outfit against Kenya that crumbled from 75 for 3 to 130 all out in their fruitless chase.
“There is no two ways about it. If batsmen get starts, they must convert. So that the bowlers get something to bowl at.”
Derrick Bakunzi (3/24), Irfan Afridi (3/31) and Trevor Bukenya (2/28) ignited the collapse to ensure at least one of the Ugandan sides got off to a winning start.
Today, the two Ugandan sides face off in no-holds barred encounter at Kyambogo whereas Takashinga and Kenya lock horns at Lugogo as the Quadrangular Series enter Day Two.
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