Both teams qualified for the final in entertaining semis where fans were treated to some exhilarating displays of cricket artistry.
But whatever is up the sleeves of the finalists will be known after Saturday ‘s toss from 9:00am onwards.
Sikh Union Development beat Ruaraka Development by 111 runs on August 26 in the first semifinal held at Jamhuri whilst SCLPS YL Development defeated CK Amazon Hirani Ladies by 9 wickets at home in the second semi on September 16.
Samaj Development are brimming with confidence and will hinge their hopes on their top order comprising of Krushil Varsani, Rikesh Shiyani and Rohit Varsani.
Sikh Union, on the other hand, will peg their hopes on their star players among them Manveer Singh, Yuvraj Batyani and Yug Patel among others.
“Standards have been set and only the sky’s the limit for our development programs,” quipped NPCA Hon Secretary Narendra Patel, popularly known as NK within the cricketing circles.
Narendra has predicted a scintillating encounter from the finalist and is overly excited with the level of enthusiasm and commitment displayed thus far within NPCA’s elaborate development structures.
“The lower tier development leagues provide a strategic objective for youngsters with the foundation in the sport to learn the ropes at a tender age,” remarked NK.
NK added: “And there are a number of starting levels based on the age of the juniors. We at NPCA provide an enabling environment for the young and buddying cricketers as well as Clubs to not only see what the game is like but realize their full potential in this noble game of bats and stumps.”
–Ruaraka on a roll—
Meanwhile, Ruaraka Sports Club A will be at it again in their last match of the season again Sikh Union A that will determine the winner of the NPCA Super Division 50-Overs league champions.
Ruaraka only needs to beat the Sikhs in Sunday’s match to get their mitts on the coveted NPCA 50-Overs League title.
Should Ruaraka prevail against the Sikhs, then they will have laid their hands on their maiden NPCA League title which has over time proved elusive to the Thika Road outfit, who previously won the then KCA title as Kathiawar Sports Club, a name that rekindles some fond memories with great names like Suresh Joshi, Anil Lakhani and Harish Sumaria, to name but a few.
Should Ruaraka lose to the Sikhs, then it will go down to the “Run Rate” facet of ranking depending on what comes out of the Kanbis A vs Stray Lions match at Eastleigh. Kanbis and Stray Lions are indeed at the mercy of Sikh Union.
They hope and pray for a miracle of sorts from the Sikhs, fondly known as the “Simbas” Ruaraka tops the NPCA 50-Overs Super Division log with 44points; which is literally the maximum that Stray Lions and Kanbis can achieve.
But then again, Stray Lions and Kanbis might as well engage in the fight for the second position should the Ruaraka-Sikh Union match fail to go their way.
In Division One, the title race will go down to the wire with all three contenders in with a chance to win it, i.e., Kongonis A, Ngara A and Kanbis B. In Division Two, Wolves CC B side has secured the championship with unassailable points tally of 40.
WEEKEND FIXTURES SUNDAY 24TH –
SUPER DIVISION
SCLPS YL A Vs Nairobi Gymkhana A (Samaj Ground)
Ruaraka A Vs Sikh Union A (Sikh Union)
Obuya Cricket Academy A Vs Swamibapa A
(Nairobi Jaffery’s) Stray Lions A Vs Kanbis A (Eastleigh High Sch.)
SUNDAY 24TH -DIVISION 0NE
Gi Unicorns A Vs Ngara Sc A (Goan)
Stray Lions B Vs Kongonis A (Nairobi Gymkhana)
Swamibapa B Vs Sikh Union B (Jamhuri)
Sunday 24th -Division Two
Obuya Cricket Academy B Vs Ngara B (Lenana)
SATURDAY 23RD DIVISION 3 FINAL
Sikh Union Development Vs SCLPS YL Development (Jamhuri High) NPCA Media & Marketing
