The two-day Batball Open North Edition bowled off on Saturday 4th March 2023 at St. Jesseph’s college Layibi and ended the next day. It was played in a 10-over aside format by young cricketing talent in northern Uganda that saw Cricket without boundaries and MCC Foundation partner and Uganda cricket association.
The event started with five games on Saturday and four games that included the final on the following day that saw Agak edge Okwik by 9 wickets to win the inaugural Batball Open North Edition.
Just like other regions, Batball continues to spread the gospel of cricket in a simple, fun and an inclusive game and off the pitch. The Gulu event was the third round of the Batball Open.
Batball Open North Edition was intended to create awareness for the increasing number of gender based violence in Gulu and most parts of northern Uganda.
The tournament comes at a point when the region is transforming from soft ball to hard ball, a process that has been started in some of the northern districts so far and currently the country is preparing for the U19 ICC Cricket World cup qualifiers and these players could be potential players to represent the nation.
“I will continue to welcome the cricket game at St. Joseph’s College Layibi and also encourage the players to take part in every competition that benefits them,” said the assistant Head Teacher St. Joseph’s College Layibi.
The tournament was headlined by players who were mostly under the age of 15 and still attending primary school education, and with the talent exhibited shows how the region is athletic in nature.
The best 16 players from the Batball Open North Edition will represent the region at the upcoming Batball X that will have respective regional best players compete in a much contested ten overs a side.
“As we continue to carve pathways for the young talent to take off in Uganda, these are some of the programs that will continue to go on in every region as we work with the governing cricket body in Uganda, regional and any partner that wishes cricket to grow and become a professional game in the country,” COO, Batball, Martin Ondeko mentioned.
There is a lot in stock for these little ones, as Batball Open North Edition will be a tournament that will go on to happen every year.
The focus now shifts to Batball Open Central Edition in the coming days that will see a number of cricket talent in Central region of Uganda take part in the fourth regional tournament and same format of ten overs a side.
*Individual winners
Best fielder- Okot Kofi Anon (Ocwak)
Best wicketkeeper- Brian Owanchgio(Agak)
Best Bowler- Bua Daniel (Okwik)
Best Batter- Ocitti Santos (Ocwak)
Player of tournament- Rubangakene Daniel Alex (Agak)
*Summary of day one results
Agak won by 7 wickets against Tula
Okwik won by 24 runs against Ocwak
Agak won by 10 wickets against Ocwak
Tula won by 2 runs against Okwik
Agak won by 9 wickets against Okwik
*Day two results
Ocwak won by 14 runs against Tula
Ocwak won by 9 runs over Tula (4th and 3rd playoff)
Okwik won by 6 runs against Ocwak(2nd and 3rd playoffs)
