Kanbis B and Ngara B upbeat as NPCA Division One League enters ninth week
Cricket
By
Washington Onyango
| Aug 17, 2024
It's turning out to be one of the most enterprising league seasons with team rivalries serving up great moments ahead for fans in Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Division one League.
NPCA Chairman Kanti Rabadia is elated by the fact that teams continue to exhibit exceptional standards as the season wears on.
“Standards have been set and only the sky’s the limit, The Division One and Two are feeder leagues for our top tier Super League.
Like their high-riding A team, league leaders Kanbis B are looking forward to the weekend with great expectations.
Kanbis B have a date with GI Unicorns A at Goan Institute on Sunday and hope to consolidate their lead on top of the table.
Kanbis B will rely on their top order hitmen Hiren Kabariya, Kaushal Mepani and Mansukh Jesani who is also the team’s wicket keeper.
GI Unicorns are regulars on the Division One front and will peg their hopes on the likes of Mitesh Goswani, Hetul Tank and Bhumit Chauhan. GI Unicorns lost to Ruaraka by a massive score of 204 runs but are ready to make amends. “We are not done yet! There’s another 6 to 7 matches to go and we’ll put on a fight, come what may” quipped Peter D’Costa of Goan Institute, who also serves at the NPCA’s Honorary Treasurer.
Second-placed Ngara SC A will be away to Ruaraka B at Ruaraka Sports Club and are leaving nothing to chance.
Ngara A will rely on their skipper Rajiv Sutaria who’s at the moment in fine form as one of the leading run scorers having amassed a total of 239 runs.
Rajiv will be the key factor with both the bat and the ball to lead the
Ngara A outfit to greater heights.
Nikul Patel and Mehul Patel are also expected to come through for Ngara A. Nikul is Ngara’s master blaster opening batsman, who undoubtedly remains key at the top of the batting line up. He has been having a consistent strike rate of above 100 in the 4 games he’s played for Ngara, who are eyeing a place in the Super League next year.
Ngara ‘s strategy is to be resilient and simple. Ngara Team Manager Harsha Patel said: “The essence is to keep the basics right and not focus on who the opponent is. The plan for our batsmen is to play every ball to its merit and as bowlers to ball in the right areas, then indeed focus on building partnerships at regular intervals and playing session by session with a target in mind.”
Meanwhile, Division Two League has four matches on the cards. Wolves B will play An-nadil Jamaly at Viraj, whilst leaders Stray Lions C take on Stray Leopards B at Peponi ground.
Kongonis B will hoist Legends CC at Nairobi Club as Ngara B square it out with GI Unicorns B at their Ngara backyard in South C.
Whatever is up the sleeves of Division two teams will be known when action starts on Sunday morning.
DIVISION ONE
Ruaraka B vs Ngara SC A (Ruaraka)
GI Unicorns A vs Kanbis B (GI)
Sir Ali B vs Stray Lions B (Sir Ali)
Swamibapa B vs Nbi Gymkhana B (Jamhuri ) Sikh Union B vs SCLPS YL B (Sikh Union) Obuya A vs Wolves CC A (Lenana)
DIVISON TWO
Wolves B VS An-nadil Jamaly (Viraj)
Stray Lions C vs Stray Leopards B (Peponi) Kongonis B vs Legends CC (Nbi Club) Ngara B vs GI Unicorns B (Ngara)