Friday morning’s clash between Gladiators and Blasters is the final chance to keep the Maxx T20 Challenge Cup alive as a contest.
Victory for Kenneth Waiswa’s Blasters seals the title with a game to spare, but a Gladiators win would drag the race into the final day, opening the door to net run rate calculations and late drama at Entebbe Oval on Sunday.
Gladiators arrive for this fixture riding momentum rather than comfort. Their 34-run victory over Strikers Thursday morning was not pretty, but it was purposeful.
Grinding it out
Defending a modest 104, they bowled with discipline, fielded sharply and showed the kind of collective urgency that defines teams still fighting for relevance late in a tournament.
On a sluggish surface, Gladiators’ batting was about accumulation rather than dominance. Suleman Sharif (25) provided early resistance, while Paul Mulongo’s unbeaten 24 ensured the innings held together. The late burst from Musa Majid Ramathan (18) pushed the total past 100 – not imposing, but defendable with intent.
Bowling blueprint
The win was built by the ball. Aziz Abdul Tandia (1/6 in 4 overs), Suleman Sharif (2/13 in 4 overs) and Ramathan (2/11) strangled the Strikers through the middle overs, while Edwin Nuwagaba (2/6 in 1.5overs) cleaned up the tail. That same discipline will be essential against a Blasters side stacked with top-order firepower.
Who must deliver
To unsettle the table-toppers, Gladiators will look to Dan Keith Amani (135), their leading run-scorer, for stability at the top, while Mulongo (121 runs)’s calm finishing has become increasingly valuable.
With the ball, Tandia (12 wickets) and Nuwagaba (11 wickets) must strike early to disrupt Blasters’ rhythm, particularly against in-form batters Simon Ssesazi (279 runs) and Charles Musemeza (209 runs).
MAXX T20 CHALLENGE CUP
Result
Gladiators 104/7 | Strikers 70/10
Gladiators won by 34 Runs
Warriors 146/7 Titans 114/8
Warriors won by 32 runs
Fixtures – Friday
Gladiators vs. Blasters – 10am
Titans vs. Royals – 2pm