KAMPALA. He’s enjoying it like he’s never done it before. Derrick Bakunzi keeps making headlines at will in the Season Two of the Generation Next 30-Over Youth League.
First, the former national U-19 skipper’s superb knock of 96 runs off 72 balls helped his side Spartans to an opening 64-run win over Knights at Lugogo Oval on Wednesday.
A day later, Bakunzi, the top batsman in Season One back in January, had a quick-fire 30-ball 32 that guided Spartans to a five-wicket win over holders Titans.
In addition to Samurais franchise skipper Abdallah Lubega’s 69-ball 76 half-ton in the day two 61-run win over the Knights, this GNext season has already promised more thrills.
Different plans
“We had different plans but the youngsters literally begged us to do this again,” revealed co-founder Denis Musali.
“The demand is huge. The boys are eager to play,” Musali’s partner Davis Karashani, also Spartans’ coach, told this paper.
Consequently, the pair, who were teammates at the 2006 U-19 World Cup, have been affected financially.
“This holiday is short,” Musali said, “We thought we could buy time with more potential sponsors but we are now racing against the clock.”
Nonetheless, ABC Impex, Blink Logistics, Aziz Damani and Uganda Cricket Association have all remained on board to support the growth of the gentleman’s game. And unlike before, all the four franchises will drop the sponsors’ names.
But that financial cold will not go over the rope to the field. Already, runs are flowing as it were during January edition.
NATIONAL 30-OVER LEAGUE
DIVISION THREE – TODAY
Pirates vs. Avengers, Lugogo
JACC vs. Strikers, Jinja
GNEXT LEAGUE – RESULTS
Samurais 171/4 Knights 110/10
(Samurais won by 61 runs)
Titans 103/9 Spartans 104/5
(Spartans won by five wickets)
Titans 55/10 Samurais 58/1
(Samurais won by nine wickets)
Spartans 174/9 Knights 110/10
(Spartans won by 64 runs)
dkyeyune@ug.nationmedia.com
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