Swamibapa A are keen to return to winning ways against hosts Cutchi Leva A on Matchday 9 of the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Super Division 50-Overs League.
The Rushab Patel-led Swamis suffered a humiliating 17-run defeat to lionhearted Sikh Union A in what is perhaps the season’s biggest upset so far.
Granted, the Swamis cannot afford another slip-up when they line up their usual suspects Rushab, Prasang Hirani, Harendra Kerai, Krishna Babu and James Ngoche against hosts Cutchi Leva.
Elsewhere, giant-killing Sikh Union A host another bigwig in Kanbis A and aren’t ruling out another seventh heaven.
Having lost some games on the trot, Sikh Union finally found their mojo back against the Swamis, courtesy of brilliant batting performances from Jasraj Singh Kundi, Rohit Sahu and skipper Sukhdeep Singh; coupled with great efforts from Nehemiah Odhiambo and Aumkar Nanda — who chalked up three and two wickets respectively.
Kanbis players, on the other hand, hope to maintain their dogged campaign in search of the coveted league title despite the three defeats suffered thus far at the hands of Swamibapa A, Ruaraka A and Sikh Union A.
Kanbis captain Dhiren Gondaria wants more from his top-order.
“I think our top-order batters have to work harder to keep going and not to leave it all to the seniors.”
Another Super Division fixture will pit Nairobi Gymkhana A against Stray Lions A at Nairobi Jaffery’s ground.
Gymkhana’s top order is likely to feature the likes of Purohit Bharat, Rayan Kassam and Stian Smith while Sandip Adole, Yash Gohil (wk), Dominic Wesonga and Harrison Ambani should occupy the middle order.
Second-placed Stray Lions will hinge their hopes on Irfan Karim, Shubham Jadav and youngster Neil Mugabe — who ranks ninth on the batting chart with 251 runs.
Thota Sreenivas, the NPCA vice chairman and Stray Lions principal said: “We will be following the same batting order in the second half of the season and expect our youngsters to master the basics and how to cope up with match pressure. Our three youngsters, Aarnav Patel, Francis Mutua and Vaibhav Naresh are performing well.”
“Our pro, Shubham (Jadav) is out of this world. He has scored two centuries and one-half century. When we beat Kanbis Shubham scored 148. I’m glad that our youngsters are getting good mentorship from our seniors Irfan, Shem Ngoche and Hiren Varaiya (captain),” Thota added.
Leaders Ruaraka A will lock horns with hosts Obuya Cricket Academy A in a fixture scheduled for Lenana School ground.
The Thika road troops will once peg their hopes on Pushkar Sharma, Sachin Gill and the league’s 10th-highest run scorer Maxwell Swaminathan (224). Obuya Academy will hinge their hopes on legendary Collins Obuya to get more time at the crease for a big score if they intend to upset the runaway leaders.
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