Matchday Five of the 2025 Uganda Cricket Association Men’s 50 Over League delivered a gripping set of fixtures on May 4 as shifts unfolded across both the Premiership and Championship divisions.
In the headline clash at Serenity Oval, Ceylon Lions suffered their first loss of the season, falling to a 49-run defeat against Rounders Cricket Club.
After electing to bowl, the Lions had Rounders in trouble at 57 for 5, but a crucial lower-order recovery changed the course of the match.
Calvin Watuwa’s composed 87 anchored two vital partnerships, including a 57-run last-wicket stand with Arnold Zubair Tembo (15*), lifting Rounders to 200 all out in 43.4 overs. Cosmas Kyewuta and Juma Miyaji shared eight wickets between them.
Despite a rapid 76 from veteran all-rounder Frank Nsubuga, featuring 11 sixes, Ceylon Lions crumbled to 151 all out in 25 overs. Tembo delivered a match-winning bowling performance, claiming 7 for 39 in a devastating spell that sealed the result.
At Jinja SS Oval, JACC edged out Aboojo by three runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in a rain-affected fixture.
Aboojo posted 162 for 8 in 32 overs, with Ivan Thawithemwira top-scoring on 33. In reply, JACC reached 144 for 5 in 29 overs when rain ended the contest.
Richard Sohera’s all-round contribution—2 for 20 and 36 with the bat—ensured his side were ahead on DLS calculations. The win lifted JACC to the top of the Premiership table with six points from four games.
Defending champions Kutchi Tigers cruised to a seven-wicket win over Wanderers at Entebbe Oval.
Wanderers posted 179, with Perry Wazombe (44) and Suleman Shariff (39) offering resistance. Kutchi Tigers’ chase was led by Hasin Ashani, whose unbeaten 90 saw them home comfortably in 33.4 overs, pushing them into second place.
In Division II, Kutchi Tigers B made a strong debut with a 68-run win over King’s College Budo at GM Sugar Oval.
Navin Pindoria starred with 74 runs in the 25-over clash, guiding his side to 158 for 5. Budo’s chase never gained momentum, as they were bowled out for 90 in 24.5 overs.
Meanwhile, Patidar Samaj were awarded a walkover win after Jinja SS failed to honour their fixture at Florida Oval.
Leaders After Matchday Five
Premiership (Division I):
1. JACC – 6 pts (4 matches)
2. Kutchi Tigers – 5 pts (3 matches)
3. Ceylon Lions – 5 pts (4 matches)
Championship (Division II):
Group A: Soroti City – 4 pts (2 matches)
Group B: GM Sugar – 4 pts (2 matches)
Top Performers of Matchday Five
Batting: Calvin Watuwa (87), Hasin Ashani (90), Frank Nsubuga (76), Navin Pindoria (74)
Bowling: Zubair Tembo (7/39), Richard Sohera (2/20), Kutchi Tigers bowling unit (restricted Wanderers to 179)
With the halfway stage approaching, the title race remains finely poised in both divisions, setting the stage for an intense second half of the league campaign.
