By sportsnewsarena correspondent
Nov 17, 2017
Persistent rains that have been witnessed in Nairobi for the last one month have suddenly made Kanbis’ ride to the glory of the NPCA Super league bumpy.
In four weekend’s the immediate former champions have only played one match. The other three have been washed out.
These results have made them drop 42 of the maximum 60 points and thus slipping to the second place with 20 points behind leaders Stray Lions.
The development has also made Swamibapa cut the lead between them to 27 points with four matches to left.
On Sunday, the two sides are up against each other in a match that could either break Kanbis' league hopes or revive them.
Kanbis are aware that any further slip ups will make things tricky. And with their main challenger Stray Lions remaining with only one tricky fixture, Kanbis cannot afford any more mistakes.
To avoid getting into a tough situation, they have to win all their next matches, starting with Swamibapa at home and pray that Stray Lions falter somewhere.
“We are in a tricky situation because of circumstances beyond us. But we will do whatever we have to top get closer and closer,” skipper Rajesh Bhudia said.
The home team will bank on their on form batsmen Rakep Patel and Nelson Odhiambo in bagging their second win in five matches.
From nine matches, Rakep has scored 713 runs and is second behind Sikh Union’s Sandip Adole who has 784 runs from 13 innings. Rakep’s inning include four centuries and half a ton.
Odhiambo is third in the batting with 528 runs from nine innings which include two centuries.
Strong bowling
The two alongside Dhiren Gondaria and Vinod Rabadia will come up against a strong bowling unit that consists the league top bowler Jadavji ‘Malindi Bhimji and Lameck Onyango.
The two have combined well with both spin and pace in tormenting the opposing batters in the last 13 matches with 55 wickets.
Bhimji is currently on top of the bowling chart with 35 wickets while veteran Onyango is eighth with 20 wickets.
Swamibapa hope Irfan Karim will fire on all cylinders which could be the best answer to the home team bowling attack.
Kanbis' bowlers have been mean with runs and for them to come up with results that could make an impact on their title quest.
As a result, they have to find a way to stop the hosts bowling.
Kanbis' best performers with the ball have been fifth placed Pushpak Kerai (25 wickets) and Nischay Kerai (17) and they will be expected to come out strong in the match.
At Peponi School, Stray Lions will hoping to put one hand on the title with a win over Sikh Union.
The defending champions will bank on their all-round performance in the battle of the ‘Lions’.
The visitors who are fifth will bank heavily on Adole in this match and will also be crossing their fingers that Gurdeep Singh gets his runs back.
Fixtures
Sunday November 19: Stray Lions v Sikh Union (Peponi School), Kanbis v Swamibapa (Eastleigh High School), Obuya Academy v Nairobi Gymkhana (Sir Ali), Cutchi Leva v Ruaraka (Samaj School), Kongonis v Sir Ali (Nairobi Club).
