Aziz Damani retains Mehta T20 Premier League title

KAMPALA. Damani matched Jinja Secondary School’s 2014 and 2015 back-to-back triumphs after they defeated Soroti Challengers by nine wickets in the final at Lugogo Oval.

The champions clad in their orange and yellow kit repeated many like those of 2018. Like last year, Damani’s Immaculate Nakisuyi turned out as the tournament MVP, a big pillar in the title defence.
“I feel very happy,” said Nakisuyi moments after trophy celebrations with the club CEO Siva Koti.

“It’s not been easy,” stated the 23-year-old after having contributed 183 runs and 22 wickets.
She actually walked to the podium without the emcee Innocent Ndawula mentioning her name. Such is what depicts how much she owned the stage in the shorter code showpiece.

“When I am playing here, people know the way I play and expect a lot. The opponents place people in positions where I play my shots,” she remarked. But while reigning the reigning Female Cricketer of the Year retained her gong, the day belonged to someone else.
Her teammate Kenyan Margaret Banja played the biggest role to help Damani chase a target of 103 runs set by Challengers inside 15.1 overs.

The experienced Kenyan opener was dropped four times only to strike ten boundaries in a quick-fire half-century of 64 runs off 48 balls to leave Challengers’ bowlers Mary Akello, Janet Mbabazi, Christine Anayo, Florence Atiang and Kevin Auro in disbelief and fans in awe.

Challengers’ captain Kevin Awino had set a firm foundation with 32 runs off 42 balls but the batting line-up melted under Nakisuyi’s control (3/25) to set 102-6.
“We had lost morale inside the first six overs but later we got our momentum,” said Nakisuyi before crediting Banja.

Individual honours

INDIVIDUAL HONOURS
Best Batter: Janet Mbabazi (Soroti
Challengers) - 270 runs
Best Bowler: Immaculate Nakisuyi (Aziz
Damani) - 22 wickets
Best Fielder: Rita Musamali (Aziz Damani)
- 12 dismissals
Best Wicket Keeper: Mary Kagoya (Aziz
Damani) - 22 dismissals
Player of Series: Immaculate Nakisuyi (Aziz
Damani) - 183 runs and 22 wickets

CAST OF CHAMPIONS
2019: Aziz Damani
2018: Aziz Damani
2017: Olila High School
2015: Jinja Sec. School
2014: Jinja Sec. School
2013: Wanderers
2012: Charity Trust Fund

MEHTA T20 PREM. LEAGUE

final
Soroti Challengers 102/6 Aziz Damani 103/1
(Damani won by 9 wickets)
SEMIFINALS
KICC 53/10 Aziz Damani 54/0
(Damani won by 10 wickets)
Olila 76/6 Soroti Challengers 79/6
(Soroti Challengers won by 4 wickets)

[email protected]