Kenya Kongonis’ players are on cloud nine following their first win of Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Twenty20 League.
Courtesy of Alex Obanda (63 off 46 balls) and Shem Ngoche (73 off 32 balls), the Nairobi Club troops pulled out all stops in their away fixture, decimating former NPCA 50-Overs League Ruaraka ‘A’ by 21 runs, contrary to all expectations.
Kongonis A won the toss and elected to bat first setting a decent target of 190 for four in 20.0 overs.
In reply, Ruaraka A were bowled out for 169 in 19.5 overs, suffering their fourth loss of the season. Kongonis had suffered another defeat on Saturday against leaders Swamibapa A at Nairobi Club after being bowled out for 124 but the win on Sunday against fancied Ruaraka was a relief.
On Saturday, Shree Cutch Leva Patel Samaj (SCLPS YL A) handed Ruaraka a 27-run blow at their Thika Road clubhouse venue.
Losing two home matches at the weekend was not quite the result the Nitish Hirani-led Ruaraka expected.
Ruaraka A suffered a damaging defeat against SCLPS A on Saturday after scintillating century from SCLPS opener Manish Kerai (105 off only 54 balls with 9 sixes and 9 boundaries to lead his side to a 27 runs victory.
After winning two matches last weekend, defending T20 League champions Stray Lions A, after losing to Kanbis A on Saturday unexpectedly tied with log leaders Swamibapa A.
Both the leaders and Lions were tied for 160/7 after 20.0 Overs in both innings. Swamibapa won the toss and opted to bat first and posted a decent a total of 160/7 after a fine half century from youngster Prasang Hirani
(60 runs off 48 balls). But Stray Lions’ skipper Tanzeel Sheikh’s unbeaten 73 off 66 balls was the splendid effort the champions needed to settle for the draw.
Sir Ali Muslim Club A defeated hosts Nairobi Gymkhana by 36 runs whilst Sikh Union A defeated Samaj A by 71 runs to move to the 2nd position on the table and boost their chances of qualifications for the knockout stage.
Sir Ali’s close victory over Ngara A (by 3 runs) and victory on Sunday against Nairobi Gymkhana has redeemed their hopes of qualification for a top 4 finish.
Sublime skipper Dhiren Gondaria’s century saw Kanbis defeat hosts Ngara A by 43 runs. Dhiren smacked a scintillating 127 off 59 balls, made up of 9 boundaries and 10 sixes.
Meanwhile, Stray Lions A has cut Swamibapa A’s T20 log lead to 2 points following today’s tie.
Sikh Union A are patched on second position ahead of Kanbis A on Net Run rate. Ruaraka A now dips to sixth following back-to-back defeats.
On the bat, Dhiren’s century moves him from seventh to fourth with 326 runs in nine innings at an average of 36.22.
Ruaraka’s skipper Nitish tops the runs score chart with 368, 10 clear off Sachin Bhudiya of Kanbis A. Stray Lions’ Simon Ssesazi is placed third with 338 runs.
On the bowl, Vraj Patel has the most wickets (22) ahead of Sikh Union duo of Om Santhosh (15) and Yug Patel (14).
On the field, Sikh Unions’ skipper Sukhdeep Singh possesses the bragging rights of having made the most dismissals (12).
Sir Ali B tops the NPCA Division One log with 24 points against Stray Lions B’s 22. Sir Ali B still leads despite losing by 13 runs to Obuya A.
In Division 2, Wolves A top Group A log with 20 points whilst Swamibapa Development are the Group B leaders with 16. Wolves CC A defeated Kanbis Development by 47 runs while Swamibapa Development beat Medics CC by 7 wickets.
WEEK 5 RESULTS
SUPER DIVISION
RUARAKA SPORTS CLUB: SCLPS YL A 185/5 (20.0 Ov); Ruaraka 158/6 (20.0); SCLPS YL A won by 27 runs
NGARA SC: Sir Ali A 154/5 (20.0 Ov), Ngara A 151/9 (20.0 OV); Sir Ali won 3 runs
EASTLEIGH: Stray Lions A 175/8 (20.0 Ov), Kanbis A 176/4 (18.5 Ov); Kanbis A won by 6 wickets
NAIROBI GYMKHANA: Nairobi Gymkhana A 92/9 (20.0 Ov); Sikh Union A 93/7 (18.4 Ov); Sikh Union won by 3 wickets
NAIROBI CLUB: Kenya Kongonis A 124/10 (18.3 Ov), Swamibapa A 127/2 (17.5 Ov); Swamibapa A won by 8 wickets
DIVISION 0NE
LENANA: Obuya Academy A 161/4 (20.0 Ov), Sir Ali B 148/10 (19.5 Ov),Obuya won by 13 runs
SIKH UNION CLUB NRB: SCLPS YL B 151/9 (20.0 Ov),Sikh Union B 82/8 (20.0 Ov),; SCLPS YL B 69 runs
PEPONI: Stray Lions B team 138/5 (20.0 Ov), Swamibapa B 137/6 (20.0 Ov), Stray Lions B won by 1 run
RUARAKA SC: Ruaraka B team 136/7 (20.0 Ov); GI A 140/7 (19.1 Ov), GI won by 3 wickets
NGARA SC: Kanbis B team 55/10 (14.0 Ov), Ngara B 59/8 (16.3 Ov), Ngara B won by 2 wickets
PEPONI SCHOOL: Kanbis B 149/6 (20.0 Ov),Star Lions B 117/10 (18.1 Ov), Kanbis B won by 32 runs
GI: Goan Institute A 95/8 (20.0 Ov), Swamibapa B 98/3 (11.4 Ov), Swamibapa B won by 7 wickets
SIR ALI: Ngara B 59/10 (17.4 Ov), Sir Ali B 60/2 (5.5 Ov), Sir Ali B won by 8 wickets
SIKH UNION CLUB NRB: Sikh Union B 108/10 (19.3 Ov), Obuya A 109/1 (9.5 Ov), Obuya A won by 9 wickets
DIVISION 2
SIR ALI: Wolves CC A 173/10 (19.0); Kanbis Development 126/10 (18.3); Wolves CC A won by 47 runs
NAIROBI JAFFERYS: Nairobi Jaffery’s 115/10 (19.4 Ov); Legends CC A 118/1 (13.2 Ov); Legends won by 9 wickets
JAMHURI: Medics CC 65/9 (20.0 Ov), Swamibapa Development 67/3 (12.0 Ov), Swamibapa Development won 7 wickets
NAIROBI CLUB: Kenya Kongonis B 116/7 (20.0 Ov), SCLPS YL Development 117/4 (19.1 Ov), SCLPS Dev. won 6 wickets
NRB GYMKHANA: Nairobi Gymkhana B 110/7 (20.0 Ov), An-nadil Jamaly A 112/6 (18.1 Ov); An-nadil won by 4 wickets
LENANA: Kanbis Development 112/9 (20.0 Ov), Obuya Academy B 87/10 (17.2 Ov), Kanbis won by 25 runs
NRB JAFFERY: Legends CC B 132/8 (20.0 Ov), Nairobi Royal Club 133/0 (15.2 Ov), Nairobi Royal won by 10 wickets
