Tornado’s promotion push off to a losing start

UCA National Men’s League

Division 1

Tornado Bees 92 Lions 94/2 (Lions won by eight wickets)

Avengers 181 Tigers 87 (Avengers won by 94 runs)

Division 2

Patidar 131 Tornado 128 (Patidar won by three runs)

Record national champions Tornado started their push for promotion back to the UCA national men’s top division on the wrong note, losing by three runs to Patidar at Entebbe in their Division 2 faceoff.

Jitesh Gorasia and Rhajesh Banderi scored 29 runs apiece for Patidar, who batted first after Tornado won the toss and chose to field, posting 131 all out in 46.4 overs. Kalpesh Kerai was the other player to score double figures for Patidar, with 12.

Gerald Olipa (3/37), Ajabu Muzei (2/6) and Victor Kainerugaba (2/12) would have been pretty satisfied with their bowling efforts and must have expected Tornado to go ahead and pick up the two points. 

But Chintan Kerai claimed 5/25 and Kalpesh added 4/19 as Patidar bowled out Tornado for 128 in 33.2 overs. 

Tornado’s opening five batsmen all reached double figures but none was able to stay around long enough to deliver the killer blow.

Ramadhan Ochimi with 29 was Tornado’s top run-getter while Rogers Olipa, Abdallah Lubega, John Gabula and Ronald Opio contributed 18, 17, 13 and 12 runs respectively.

The victory took unbeaten Patidar to second in the standings, behind Aziz Damani Development, who however have played three extra games. 

Either way, the race for promotion seems to be between Damani Development, who are unbeaten in five, and Patidar, who have won both their matches so far. 

And where does that leave the most successful club in local cricket?