The second week of the 2024 Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Twenty20 Championship is set to feature two days of intense action at various city venues on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday’s highlight has a mouthwatering Jamhuri High derby featuring immediate former T20 Champions Swamibapa ‘A’ and the 50-Overs League Champions Kanbis ‘A’.
Just like IPL’s most intense rivalry between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, Jamhuri derby should treat spectators to some exhilarating displays of cricket artistry.
Sunday’s highlight will see Ruaraka ‘A’ host to Swamibapa ‘A’ at their Thika Road backyard.
Like Kanbis at their Eastleigh home-tuff, the Thika Road troops have equally attested to their dominance at home, by and large.
Although no one knows what’s up the sleeves of players, this will be known after the toss on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
Swamibapa ‘A’ will peg their hopes on their usual suspects led by skipper and opening batsman Rushabh Patel, dangerman Sachin Gill, Dhwanil Patel, Vraj Patel and Harendra Kerai who were impressive in the team’s comfortable seven-wicket victory against newly- promoted Ngara ‘A’.
High-flying skipper Dhiren Gondaria and Pushpak Kerai in the top order and hitman Rakep Patel and on form Sachin Bhudiya in the middle order will lead the charge for Kanbis.
On a good day, Rakep, Sachin and Dhiren have what it takes to rise to the occasion, but whatever is up the sleeves of the two giants will be known when the toss is decided in Saturday.
Both teams will come into the contest on the back of a seamless start to the T20 season last weekend.
Swamis have an advantage though on a superior net run-rate on the points table. In another Super Division match, Ruaraka ‘A’ have a date with defending T20 champions Stray Lions ‘A’ at their Ruaraka Sports Club Home turf. Both teams- lost their opening matches last weekend- and are expected to resume week2 fight like wounded lions.
Kenya Kongonis ‘A’ too hope to register their first win of the T20 season as they host Sikh Union ‘A’ at Nairobi Club.
Kongonis will feature the likes of skipper Tom Ojijo, Shem Ngoche, Alex Obanda and their top order batsman Jitendra Singh Gariya. The Sikhs, on the other hand, will hinge their hopes on performers from last season; including Shubham Patel, Jasraj Kundi, Satish Hirani and skipper Sukhdeep Singh.
Sikh Union has decided to give a few young guys a chance and see how it can help them develop themselves in the coming future.
Sikh Union youngsters include Arshdeep Singh, Aj Manji and Yug Patel.
Elsewhere, hosts Sir Ali Muslim Club ‘A’ and SCLPS YL ‘A’ will square it out in another Super Division match. Sir Ali boasts of the tournament’s only and first century so far, thanks to Simran Mehta’s 104 off 50 balls.
Alongside Mehta who is NPCA T20’s leading run scorer with 104 runs, Sir Ali should also be able to trust Nehemiah Odhiambo, an old hand at the game.
Division Two has one match on Saturday featuring Nairobi Jaffery’s against Wolves A at Jaffrey’s.
Sunday will be the busiest day for the Division Two category with 9 matches on the cards.
Swamibapa Development who are in Group B have a bye and as such will be keenly watching their adversaries from the comfort zones of the pavilions.
Wolves A will be at it again Sunday against Stray Lions C at Viraj grounds. Nairobi Jaffery’s will again host Sikh Union Development Sunday at Nairobi Jaffery’s.
Saturday
NPCA SUPER DIVISION
14:30: Swamibapa A vs Kanbis A (Jamhuri)
14:30: Ruaraka A vs Stray Lions A (Ruaraka SC)
14:30: Kongonis A vs Sikh Union A (Nbi Club)
14:30: Sir Ali Muslim Club A SCLPS YL A (Sir Ali)
14:30: Nairobi Gymkhana A vs Ngara Sports Club A (Nbi Gymkhana)
NPCA DIVISION ONE
14:30: Kanbis B VS Swamibapa B (Eastleigh)
14:30: Stray Lions B vs Ruaraka B (Peponi)
14:30: Sikh Union B vs Goan Institute A (Sikh Union)
14:30: SCLPS YL B Sir Ali Muslim Club B (GI)
14:30: Ngara Sports Club B vs Obuya Academy A (Ngara SC)
NPCA DIVISION TWO
14:30: Nairobi Jaffrey’s vs Wolves Cricket Club A (Nbi Jaffrey’s)
Sunday
NPCA SUPER DIVISION
14:00: Sikh Union A vs Kanbis A (Sikh Union)
14:00: Ruaraka A vs Swamibapa A (Ruaraka)
14:00: Stray Lions A vs Sir Ali Muslim club A (Peponi) 14:00: Nbi Gymkhana A vs Kongonis A (Nairobi Gymkhana) 14:00: Ngara Sports Club A vs SCLPS YL A (Ngara)
NPCA DIVISION ONE
09:30: Sikh Union B vs Kanbis B (Sikh Union)
09:30: Swamibapa B vs Ruaraka B (Jamhuri)
09:30: Stray Lions B vs Sir Ali Muslim Club B (Peponi) 09:30: Goan Institute A vs Obuya Academy A (GI) 09:30: Ngara Sports Club B vs SCLPS YL B (Ngara)
Washington Onyango
| Jan 25, 2025