League front runners Ruaraka, Swamibapa clash in crucial Thika road derby
Cricket
By
Washington Onyango
| Aug 31, 2024
When some of Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) finest batsmen face-off in a Super Division 50-Over League derby, spectators are truly treated to some exhilarating displays!
Rightly so, defending champions and third- paced Ruaraka A host leaders Swamibapa A at Ruaraka Sports Club for Sunday’s week 11 derby.
It's a fixture that will definitely shape the competition's supremacy battles as both cannot afford slip-ups.
Swami's current form and Ruaraka’ s dogged campaign in defense of the title promises to be a battle royal between two of the four teams at the peak with arguably some of league’s most lethal hitmen; able to terrorize adversaries on a good day.
Ruaraka spearheaded by Chandresh Hirani (wk), Pushkar Sharma, Viraj Deepak Jadhav and league's highest run scorer Gautam Waghela will be fighting tooth and nail to decimate the visitors at their backyard.
Swamibapa skipper and opener Rushabh Patel, dangerman Sachin Gill and Dhwanil Patel are the men Ruaraka will hope to dismiss earlier in play before the damage is affected.
Sachin has always remained lethal on the bat for as long as he stayed on the crease.
For Sachin, he will be playing against his former team (Ruaraka) which he helped win the title last season.
Ruaraka can ill-afford to allow Sachin and the rest of indefatigable Swami’s hitmen the freedom to control the crease, by and large.
Asked about playing his former teammates, Sachin said: “There is obviously a palpable sense of emotion, but then again, being a professional sportsman once you get on the field emotions don’t play a big part...it’s the ball and bat that time.”
Ruaraka (24) are seeking back-to-back titles since their maiden victory last year and are currently lying third on the log behind Swamibapa A (28) and Kanbis A (28).
Kanbis A last laid their hands on the coveted NPCA 50 Overs league title during the 2022/23 season while Swamibapa’ s last title was in the 2009/2010 season.
Swamibapa had won the 2019/20 title but that year the league wasn’t played under NPCA due to a dispute so teams resorted to Nairobi Invitation Cricket League (NICL).
Meanwhile, a rejuvenated Sikh Union will be back in the saddle after a bye last weekend. The Sikhs confront Shree Cutch Leva Patel Samaj (SCLPS YL A) at home hoping to catch up with the top three.
The Sikhs didn’t score points last weekend and they trail Ruaraka by four points, then Swamis and Kanbis by 8 points.
Sikh Union’s advantage is the fact that they have played less matches (7) and are well in contention depending on how they approach their remaining 5 matches.
Like Ruaraka and Swamibapa, Sikh Union have suffered two No Results (NR) in their matches against Sir Ali and Ruaraka which were abandoned due to inclement wet weather.
In other Super Division matches, Stray Lions A face Kanbis A at Nairobi Jaffrey’s while Sir Ali A have a date with Gymkhana A at Sir Ali Muslim Club.
Stray Lions have been too inconsistent finding themselves in an unfamiliar territory at the bottom of the log and will find it very difficult to get a result against a high flying Kanbis outfit battling for the title with the other three contenders. Stray Lions will be hoping their players finally step up and deliver after are disappointing campaign so far. Captain Tanzeel, Neil Mugabe, Aman Gandhi and the rest will be hoping for a better performance this weekend.
Gymkhana and Sir Ali will resume battle for a respectable finish in the league. Sir Ali promised a lot after their return to the competition but have had a disappointing campaign so far unable to consistently perform well to win league matches. On the other hand, Nairobi Gymkhana will welcome back their professionals after suspension to spearhead their batting line up.
NPCA SUPER LEAGUE-WEEK 11 FIXTURES SUNDAY
Ruaraka A v Swamibapa A (Ruaraka)
Stray Lions A vs Kanbis A Nbi (Jaffrey’s)
Sir Ali A vs Nbi Gymkhana A (Sir Ali)
Sikh Union A vs SCLPS YL A (Sikh Union)