The race for the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) 50-Overs Super League title is heating up as top contenders Swamibapa A, Kanbis A, and Ruaraka A resume their intense rivalry this Sunday.
These three teams have been the dominant forces in the league, consistently exchanging titles over the years, and this season has been no exception.
Currently, Swamibapa A leads the table with 24 points, tied with Kanbis A, but edging ahead on a superior Net Run Rate of 1.907.
Swamibapa’s success this season has been marked by a strong performance from their middle-order batsman Sachin Gill, who has also been effective with the ball.
Gill, who moved from Ruaraka to Swamibapa, recently took six wickets, including a hat-trick, in their convincing 153-run victory over Nairobi Gymkhana.
Reflecting on that win, Gill said, “Our batters fought it out on a difficult wicket to post a defendable total, and then our bowlers, led by Peter Koech and myself, made sure we got an easy win.”
Kanbis A, also with 24 points but a slightly lower Net Run Rate of 1.690, will host Sir Ali Muslim Club at their Eastleigh grounds.
Kanbis have been nearly unbeatable on their home turf, and they will look to continue their dominant form, led by their star bowler Sheryas Gurav, who has taken 19 wickets in seven innings, the highest in the league so far.
Ruaraka A, who ended a long title drought last season, sits in third place with 20 points. They will face off against Stray Lions A at their Thika Road backyard. Ruaraka’s Gautam Waghela has been in sublime form, leading the league with 373 runs from six innings.
Despite losing key players like Maxwell Swaminathan to Kanbis and Sachin Gill to Swamibapa, Ruaraka’s batting lineup remains formidable, thanks to Waghela’s consistency and the team’s resilience.
Meanwhile, Sikh Union A, the dark horses of the season, are also in the mix for the title, tied with Ruaraka at 20 points but with a Net Run Rate of 1.012. Although they have a bye this weekend, Sikh Union has been impressive, taking significant scalps and proving that they cannot be underestimated.
Their balanced squad, featuring pros like Shoaib Akram and Ali Bhatt, has shown that they can compete with the league’s best.
While the top four battle for supremacy, T20 champions Stray Lions A and tailenders Kenya Kongonis A will be looking to turn their seasons around. Stray Lions have struggled this season, with only one win in seven matches, and will face a tough challenge against Ruaraka.
Kenya Kongonis A, led by Shem Ngoche, will host Nairobi Gymkhana in a bid to improve their standing.
With no easy games in this league, every match counts as the NPCA 50-Overs Super League enters the second half of the season.
The top teams are not only battling for victory but also for every run and wicket that could impact the final standings, making the coming matches crucial for their title ambitions.
As the league action unfolds, cricket fans can expect a thrilling conclusion to what has already been a highly competitive season.
NPCA TOP 4 50 OVERS SUPER LEAGUE STANDINGS
1.Swamibapa A 24 Points – Net Run Rate – 1.907
2.Kanbis A 24 Points – Net Run Rate – 1.690
3.Ruaraka A 20 Points – Net Rub Rate 1.985
4.Sikh Union 20 Points – Net Run Rate 1.012
SUPER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Ruaraka A vs Stray Lions A (Ruaraka)
Swamibapa A vs SCLPS YL A (Nbi Jaffrey’s)
Kanbis A vs Sir Ali A (Eastleigh)
Kongonis A vs Nbi Gymkhana A (Nbi Club)
