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The Nairobian

Ngara edge Goan Institute to dislodge Stray Lions from top of NPCA Division 2 table

Cricket

By Washington Onyango | Aug 22, 2024

**Ngara Sports Club B Captain Piyushkumar Patel receiving the NPCA Div 2 T-20 Floating Trophy from Sreenivas Thota, Vice Chairman of NPCA earlier in the year.**[Courtesy]

Piyush Kumar Patel’s Ngara Sports Club ‘B’ have dislodged Stray Lions C from the summit of Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Division Two 50-Overs League table after beating Goan Institute B by 7-wickets on Sunday at their South C clubhouse grounds.

While the weekend proceedings handed runaway leaders Ngara B a feel of the log summit, the South C troops can’t afford to rest on their laurels as the league enters a crucial stage.

It was a bad day at the office for immediate former Champions Stray Lions C who suffered a 3-wickets loss to Stray Leopards at B at Peponi School grounds. This saw the Leopards shatter the Lions’ four-match unbeaten run.

With a chance to go back to the top of the table still realistic, Stray Lions C will be fighting to overcome the two-point deficit as they sit in second position after week 9 matches.

The tussle for the summit is still tight as Ngara B have amassed 20 points from 7 matches having won 5 and lost 2.

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Stray Lions C have a slight advantage though as they have collated 18 points from 6 matches, made up of 4 wins and 1 loss.

Ngara B won the toss and elected to field first as GI were bowled out for 53 in just 23.1 overs. In reply, Ngara were home and dry with 54 for 3 in 16.2 overs.

The star players for Ngara B were Shubh Patel and Aniket Patel who racked up 4 wickets apiece to completely shatter GI's batting innings and get them all out for 53 runs as the victors’ batsmen didn't have much to do to finish up the game.

Ngara Team Manager Harsh Patel reckoned that winning the toss was important as overhead conditions were favorable to bowl first adding: “It assisted our pace

bowlers who took 6 wickets and one spin bowler finishing it off with the other 4 wickets.”

At Nairobi Club, Legends Cricket Team registered a 55-run win over hosts Kenya Kongonis B whilst An-Nadil Jamaly Cricket Team defeated Wolves B by 3 wickets in another Division Two match played at Vijay International Academy.

Stray Leopards are still in strong contention, currently holding third position behind Ngara B and Stray Lions C. The Leopards have amassed 18 points, same as the Lions but are a slot below on Net Run rate.

Obuya Academy ‘A’ Surge On

Meanwhile, the title race for NPCA Division One is as hot as ever as former Super League side Obuya Cricket Academy A and leaders Kanbis B emerged victorious.

The Collins Obuya led Obuya Academy defeated Wolves A by 246 runs at their Lenana School backyard, thanks to Balaram Desai’s century that saw the victors finish on an impressive 392 for 6 in 50.0Overs.

Kanbis B maintained their 8-match unbeaten run with an emphatic 5-wicket advantage over Goan Institute A at Goan Institute grounds Nairobi to cling onto the log summit with a flawless 32 points.

After 9 outings, Obuya A (relegated from last season’s Super League) are patched on second spot with 28 points although Kanbis have a match at hand.

Sir Ali B beat Stray Lion B by 6 wickets while Swamibapa B also registered victory at the weekend with a 123-run advantage over Gymkhana B at Jamhuri High School. Pankaj Sanghani scoring a brilliant century (100 runs off 93 balls) for the home side leading his side to a respectable 227/10 in 49 overs. In reply, Gymkhana B could only manage 104/9 in 25.3 overs.