Batball Maxx to excite, Victoria Pearls breathe
Action Packed. U-19 all-rounder Jonathan Nyiro (L) was one of the stars that emerged from Batball events and will play for Ruby. Musamali (R) was the heroine with the bat as Uganda edged Nepal yesterday. PHOTO/JOHN BATANUDDE
What you need to know:
To secure a spot, the Pearls must overcome table leaders Namibia in Friday’s afternoon fixture. A loss would leave them at the mercy of Nepal, who must defeat Hong Kong-China in the morning clash for Uganda to progress.
The Batball journey has reached its grandest stage yet, as the first-ever Batball Maxx tourney bowls off at Lugogo Oval today. This premier franchise competition will bring together the best of Uganda’s cricketing talent, featuring four powerhouse teams - Gold, Ruby, Emerald, and Sapphire - competing for ultimate glory.
Batball Maxx is the culmination of an extensive development structure, which starts at the regional level with Batball Open, progresses through Batball X, and now peaks with this thrilling franchise event. Organized by Batball Uganda Limited in partnership with the Uganda Cricket Association (UCA), the tournament is designed to give players greater exposure and competitive experience on a global scale.
Development assured
UCA Honorary Secretary Denis Musali is excited about what Batball Maxx means for the sport in Uganda. “We are thrilled about the Batball Maxx tournament,” Musali stated. “It will bring excitement as our best local talent competes alongside international players. Batball has continued to show its commitment to the development of cricket in Uganda, and we hope to continue growing together.”
The tournament will follow a double round-robin format, with each team playing twice against the others before the top four advance to the semifinals. The two best teams will then face off in a grand finale on March 23. With 15 matches packed into 10 days, fans can expect a relentless display of talent, skill, and grit.
“Ugandan talent is starting to gain recognition, as seen in our recent T20 World Cup and U19 World Cup appearances,” Madaan remarked. “Batball Maxx provides a platform for our youth to shine before a potential global audience of 100 million. We hope this initiative, supported by the Uganda Cricket Association, inspires more young people to pick up a bat and ball.”
Victoria Pearls alive
Elsewhere, Uganda reignited their hopes of reaching the Women’s Day T20 Cup final with a commanding 40-run victory over Nepal at the Entebbe Oval on Thursday. The win lifted Uganda to six points, level with Namibia and Hong Kong-China, but their place in Sunday’s final remains uncertain.
To secure a spot, the Pearls must overcome table leaders Namibia in Friday’s afternoon fixture. A loss would leave them at the mercy of Nepal, who must defeat Hong Kong-China in the morning clash for Uganda to progress.
After a sluggish start that saw Uganda stumble to 1/2 inside two overs, experienced batter Rita Musamali (38 off 48) and Esther Iloku (22 off 25) steadied the innings with a crucial 51-run stand. Musamali’s patience at the crease provided stability, while Stephanie Nampiina (13*) and Malisa Ariokot (7*) ensured Uganda reached 91/5 in 20 overs.
Despite the modest total, debutant Mutoni Irene (3/10) and all-rounder Immaculate Nakisuuyi (3/10) produced a scintillating bowling display, tearing through Nepal’s fragile batting lineup. Nepal crumbled to 51 all out in 17.1 overs, with only skipper Indu Barma (11) and Kabita Joshi (12) showing some resistance.
The much-needed win gave home fans something to cheer about after Uganda’s inconsistent campaign. However, their fate still hangs in the balance, with a must-win clash against Namibia set to define their tournament destiny.
BATBALL MAXX 2025
Friday
Sapphire vs. Gold, 9:30am
Ruby vs. Emerald, 2pm
March 15
Gold vs. Emerald, 9:30am
Sapphire vs. Ruby, 2pm
Sunday, March 16
Ruby vs. Gold, 9.30am
Emerald vs. Sapphire, 2pm
WOMEN’S DAY T20 CUP
Results – Thursday
Hong Kong-China 80/9 Namibia 81/3
Namibia won by 7 wickets (with 37 balls remaining)
Uganda 91/5 Nepal 51/10
Uganda won by 40 runs
Fixtures – Friday
Hong Kong-China vs. Nepal, 10am
Namibia vs. Uganda, 2pm
Points Table – Day 5
Team M W L N/R Pts NRR
1. Namibia 5 3 2 0 6 0.5726
2. Uganda 5 3 2 0 6 0.5535
3. Hong Kong, China 5 3 2 0 6 -0.4152
4. Nepal 5 1 4 0 2 -0.6854
