Composure, discipline, and collective effort defined Light Secondary School’s path to glory as they edged rivals Olila High School by five wickets to win the 2026 SkyView Girls Schools Cricket Week in Gulu City on Saturday.
In a final that leaned more on tension than flamboyance, Light SS demonstrated that championships are not always built on standout individual brilliance, but on execution under pressure.
Chasing a modest 63, they navigated early resistance to seal victory with 10 balls to spare.
Olila HS, having opted to bat first, struggled to assert dominance and were restricted to 62/8 in a tightly controlled innings. The damage was orchestrated by Rita Alio and Teddy Anyait, who claimed three wickets apiece to stifle any momentum.
Despite a spirited start with two maiden overs in defense, Olila’s total proved insufficient against a patient Light SS approach. Ruth Kulume’s unbeaten 15 and Susan Akidi’s measured 14 anchored the chase, while a costly 15 extras conceded by Olila ultimately tipped the balance.
The triumph marks Light SS’s second title, having previously defeated the same opponents in 2024, further cementing their growing pedigree in schools’ cricket.
Elsewhere, Soroti Secondary School announced their arrival on the big stage with a commanding six-wicket victory over St. James SS in the Plate final. Judith Iroo once again proved decisive, picking up three wickets to cap an impressive tournament.
Individual Excellence Recognised
While Light SS lifted the trophy, individual accolades highlighted exceptional performances across the competition.
Sonia Nampeera of St. John’s SS was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after an outstanding all-round display, amassing 872 points with 21 wickets—the highest tally—and 93 runs.
Olila captain Malisa Ariokot emerged as the Best Batter, finishing as the tournament’s leading run scorer with 279 runs. Light SS’s Rita Alio, whose consistency with the ball stood out, claimed the Best Bowler award with 20 wickets.
Mary Nabuma of Soroti SS earned Best Fielder honours with 14 dismissals, including 10 catches and four run-outs, while Masindi SS’s Mackline Kyosaba secured the Best Wicketkeeper award with 11 dismissals.
The future of the game also shone brightly, with 12-year-old Angella Ihunde of Nyakasura recognised as the Young Player of the Tournament.
In the end, the tournament underscored a simple truth: in cricket, as in sport, structure and discipline often prevail where flair alone cannot.
