Match Day 4 of the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) 50-Overs League produced fireworks as Shree Cutchi Leva Patel Samaj (SCLPS A) stunned league leaders Kanbis ‘A’ with a nail-biting 1-wicket victory in Eastleigh, ending the hosts’ unbeaten run in dramatic fashion.
Despite missing star batsmen Rakep Patel and captain Dhiren Gondaria, who are away on national duty at the Pearl of Africa T20 Series in Uganda, Kanbis ‘A’ posted an imposing 328/6 after being put in to bat. Opener Pushpak Kerai led the charge with a scintillating century and was part of a formidable 170-run stand with Sachin Bhudia, who contributed a vital 97 off 91 balls.
However, the visiting Samaj ‘A’ side, undeterred by the challenge, mounted a spirited chase. Opener Aditya Vekaria chipped in with a solid 68 off 86 balls before captain Niraj Patel anchored the innings with a classy unbeaten 92 off 91 deliveries, guiding his team to 332/9 in 50 overs, sealing a memorable upset.
The victory leaves Kanbis ‘A’ still on top of the league table with 12 points, but only on Net Run Rate (2.468), as four other teams, Swamibapa ‘A’, Ruaraka ‘A’, Nairobi Gymkhana ‘A’, and Sir Ali ‘A’, also share the same points tally.
Meanwhile, Ruaraka ‘A’ edged out Swamibapa ‘A’ by 1 wicket in another high-pressure encounter. Swamibapa, missing key players Sachin Gill, Vraj Patel, and Peter Koech, were led by Neelakash Ravindra Tambe’s resilient 78 off 77 balls. But it was Ruaraka’s depth that made the difference, with Rushab Patel (56), Onkar Jadhav (65), and Yash Chavan (78* not out) helping chase down the target in a tense finish.
Elsewhere, Nairobi Gymkhana ‘A’ reignited their title hopes with a commanding 7-wicket win over Ngara Sports Club ‘A’, while Stray Lions secured their first win of the season in style.
At the “Lions Den” in Peponi, the hosts bowled out Kenya Kongonis ‘A’ with clinical precision, thanks to man-of-the-match Atharv Patil and veteran spinner Hiren Varaiya, who combined for eight wickets. Lions chased down the target effortlessly, powered by an aggressive start from Kavi Dosaja (32 off 18) and a composed finish from stand-in captain Aman Gandhi.
Speaking after the match, Dosaja said: “Our bowlers were outstanding, especially Atharv and Amish Amin. We backed it up with sharp fielding and wrapped up the chase efficiently to boost our net run rate.”
With the competition heating up and just a slim margin separating the top five teams, the NPCA 50-Overs League promises even more thrilling action in the weeks ahead.
Written By Rodney Mbua
