The fifth week of the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association NPCA 50-Overs League promises fireworks with some mouth-watering Super League fixtures scheduled for various venues.
Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj (SCLPS YL A) will host the in-form Swamibapa A in a much-anticipated match at Samaj Stadium in Nairobi West.
Swamibapa, currently tied on 10 points with champions Ruaraka, trails only due to a slightly inferior Net Run Rate of 2.220. Swamibapa, with a game in hand, will be looking to capitalize on their current form to climb to the top of the standings.
Ruaraka, despite a stellar start to the season, suffered their first defeat last weekend, losing to Kanbis by 52 runs. They will seek to bounce back as they face hosts Sir Ali, with both teams eager to prove their mettle on Sunday.
Swamibapa will rely heavily on their star-studded top order, including opener and skipper Rushabh Patel, Harshvardhan Patel, and dangerman Sachin Gill. Their overseas star Dhwanil Patel, who is also the team’s wicketkeeper, is expected to shine again after scoring 60 off 66 deliveries in their recent 5-wicket win over Sir Ali.
Samaj, on the other hand, will not be easy pushovers. The Nairobi West outfit is gunning for their second win of the season after a massive 221-run victory over Gymkhana last weekend. Key players like Manish Kerai, Rahul Harish, and Hiren Kerai will anchor Samaj’s top order, while Kishan Varsani, Ankit Bhanderi, and skipper Niraj Patel are anticipated to start in the middle order.
Kanbis A will travel to face a struggling Nairobi Gymkhana, in a match where they are expected to dominate. Nairobi Gymkhana has faced challenges in both batting and bowling, with neither department performing consistently. Players like Dominic Wesonga and Stian Smith will need to step up to improve their standings in the league.
Kanbis, currently riding high in the NPCA League, will be led by skipper Dhiren Gondaria, who is urging his team to play with freedom and responsibility. Gondaria praised his team’s character in their recent win against Ruaraka and emphasized the importance of maintaining high energy and focus throughout the match.
In another Super League match, T-20 Champs Stray Lions A will host Sikh Union A at Nairobi Jaffrey’s. Stray Lions, yet to make a significant impact in this year’s 50-Overs League, will look to come out strong against the revamped Sikh Union, who have three pros from Pakistan in their lineup. Stray Lions will hope for a strong performance from last season’s highest run-scorer, Subham Jadhav, to lead their struggling batting unit. Sikh Union, enjoying a great start to the season, will rely on key players like Ali Bhatt, Subham Patel, and Jasraj Kundi.
On the batting leaderboard, Ruaraka’s Gautam Waghela leads with 234 runs in four innings, followed by teammate Pushkar Sharma with 198, and Samaj A’s Hiren Kerai with 160 from three innings.
Meanwhile, Division One leaders Ngara Sports Club A will face Obuya A at Lenana School Ground on Sunday. Both teams secured victories last weekend, with Obuya delivering a massive 101-run blow to Gymkhana B at Nairobi Gymkhana.
With exciting matchups and top talents on display, the fifth week of the NPCA 50-Overs League promises to be a thrilling spectacle for cricket fans.
