Following their second loss of Nairobi County Cricket Association (NCCA) 50-Overs League, Kanbis A returns to their Eastleigh home-turf to face perennial rivals Swamibapa A as the second round of the competition begins this week.
All the teams have faced each other once and with five games to go, the title race is expected to go to the wire this season.
Last weekend’s 5-wicket loss to hosts Nairobi Gymkhana A is something that defending champions and longtime leaders Kanbis would want to forget in a hurry.
Playing minus three of their finest batsmen, Dhiren Gondaria, Rakep Patel and Sachin Bhudiya away with the Kenya team in Jersey for the ICC Challenge League, Kanbis’ loss meant that Ruaraka A leapfrogs to the summit of the 10-team competition for the first time since the season started in June.
Eastleigh troops have been the team to beat in the competition and will definitely fight like wounded lions to stay in contention for the coveted trophy.
With an apparently insatiable appetite for success, Kanbis have remained almost impregnable on home turf, and it will be interesting to see how their rivalry with the Swamis pans out.
Swamibapa’s Sachin Gill and skipper Rushabh Patel will be the men to watch as the team seeks to recover lost ground. Both teams know very well a defeat might more or less end their title charge for this season.
Both teams are missing key players and it will be important for the available players to step up and lead their respective sides positively.
Whenever these two teams meet, the contest is evenly matched and fans will be expecting another thriller at Eastleigh.
Ruaraka A are expected to sparkle this week when they face Stray Lions A at home in Thika Road.
The Lions have not had a good run this season, and as much as hosts Ruaraka start favourites, it will all depend only on how the proceedings go.
Neil Mugabe finally scored a century last week against the same opponents and will need to pull off a similar effort if his team has any chance of upsetting the in-form Ruaraka side who have now ranked up 8 victories in a row as they charge towards the title.
Satyalaksha Jain who has already scored 673 runs and leading the batting chart and has been a key figure in Ruaraka’ s success this season is expected to lead his sides quest for another victory.
After nine matches played so far, Ruaraka top the NCCA log on 32 points, four clear off Swamibapa, Nairobi Gymkhana, and Kanbis
Fifth placed Sikh Union A head away to Sir Ali Muslim Club A determined to gain lost ground, after losing to by 190 runs to the Swamis last weekend.
Tailenders Kenya Kongonis A will be chasing their first win of the season against Ngara A at their Nairobi Club home ground. All has not been well with Kongonis after failing to rack up any points for the competition that will run until October.
Kongonis were promoted to the top tier league this season, but skipper Tom Ojijo admits it’s still a learning curve.
Ojijo said: “Only positive thoughts from the side, and just taking it one game at a time, working hard to get off the mark with a maiden win this season. Top flight cricket is good and an eye-opener to the young squad we have.”
Like Kongonis, Ngara was also promoted to the Super Division this season. They sit seventh on the log with four wins from nine matches, which team manager Team Manager Harsh Patel believes isn’t that bad given the level of competition at the top.
Ngara A batted first and scored 294/6 in 50 overs as they gored Shree Cutch Leva Patel Sama (SCLPS A) last weekend. Shubham Chagg was the top scorer with 136 off 128 balls; well supported by Parth Patel 60 off 67 balls.
Ngara A will be hoping to replicate last weekend’s form as they take the fight to the hosts. After promotion to the NCCA elite league, Ngara A have maintained the same team for the super League season lead by Rajiv Sutaria and their new vice-captain Dhyey Patel.
Stalwarts of the team include Mehul Patel, Nikul Patel, and Amit Shukla, who they have depended on for their experience. Ngara’s international pros Shubham Chagg and Ganesh Mansuria have also performed well and will be key this weekend as they seek for their fifth win of the season.
“Standards have been set, and only the sky’s the limit for NCCA (formerly NPCA). International pros have added the much-needed zest and competition to the season, and we can only hope for the best. Local players have also given a good account of themselves hence some centuries and indeed some high scoring matches we have witnessed,” said Kanti Rabadia, NCCA Chairman.
Week10 Sun/31/08/2025
SUPER DIVISION
Kanbis A vs Swamibapa A (Eastleigh)
Sikh Union A vs Sir Ali A (Sikh Union)
SCLPS A vs Nbi Gymkhana A (SCLPS) Ruaraka A vs Stray Lions A (Ruaraka) Kongonis A vs Ngara A (Nbi Club)
DIVISION ONE
Wolves CC A vs Obuya A (Viraj)
Swamibapa B Kanbis B (Jamhuri)
Ngara B vs GI A (Ngara SC)
Sikh Union B Ruaraka B (Sikh Union) DIVISION TWO
Stray Lions C vs Swamibapa Development (Impala)
GI B vs Stray Lions D (GI)
Legends CC vs Nbi Gymkhana B (Nbi Gymkhana)
Nairobi Royals vs Obuya B (Nbi Jaffrey)