By sportsnewsarena correspondent
Nov 28, 2017
A century opening stand between Naman Patel and Alex Obanda alongside failure of Kanbis being in action once again helped Swamibapa catch up with second placed Kanbis.
Patel and Obanda both scored half century in their century opening stand as Swamibapa registered a nine wickets win over Obuya Academy on a day that rains once again played a key role in the NPCA Super League.
Only one match was played including the top of the bill match between leaders Stray Lions and Kanbis at Eastleigh High School failed to bowl off after overnight rains that hit the city on Saturday night made the venues either waterlogged or water having sipped through the covers unto the wickets.
At Nairobi Club where Kongonis was to host Nairobi Gymkhana, the wicket was full of water that the umpires had to call of the match immediately after their arrival at the venue .
The scenario at Samaj School, a venue for the match between Sikh Union and Cutchi Leva was no different.
The wash out at Eastleigh High was the fourth in six matches for Kanbis and it has left them needing ‘miracle’ to reclaim the league title with two rounds of matches to play.
There were water patches on the section of the wicket while most part of the outfield especially the 45 yards was water-logged.
Because of this, the two teams collected six points each with Stray Lions extending their lead to 272 points. Kanbis’ points tally moved to 236.
With the washout and a delay in the start at Nairobi Jaffery’s Swamibapa needed to bag all the 18 points on offer to catch up with the former champions, and they did that convincingly.
Rain had seeped through the covers
At Nairobi Jafferys, Swamibapa reached the required total of 139 in the overs reduced match in just 68 balls. The match was reduced to 20 overs after rain had seeped through the covers.
After losing the toss, Obuya Academy struggled against Swamibapa bowlers who exactly knew what bagging of all the points will do to their final league standing with two matches to play.
Rather than opening with the usual seam attack of Lameck Onyango and Emmanuel Bundi, the home team gave the new ball to Jadavji ‘Malindi’ Bhimji and Saumil Patel.
Saumil gave them a good start with the dismissal of Steve Biko with the board on only one run.
Aveet Desai was the second to go with only nine on board before Kevin Kumutai was bowled by Mitesh Sangani with the scores on 34.
David Obuya took over the responsibility and he shared a number of stands with his partners before he was the last to fall with the board on 138.
Five batsmen scored ducks in the inning that had only two batsmen scoring double digits.
In reply of 138, the home team announced their arrival on the crease immediately with Naman Patel and Alex Obanda pouncing on the youthful bowling attack of Obuya Academy.
Steve Biko and Charles Obuya went for 16 and 14 runs respectively in the first two overs of the inning before Festus Asirigwa’s over got the scores to 40 in just three overs.
Same script
The script was the same in entire inning as the balls were dislodged over the park easily as the home team eased to their 12th win of the season.
Patel hit five sixes and four boundaries in just 28 balls on his unbeaten 71 runs. Obanda too was brutal on the Obuya’s bowling with 52 from 18 balls which included five maximums and four fours.
Their stand lasted nine overs before Aveet Desai ended it with the dismissal of Obanda.
National team wicketkeeper Irfan Karim then added on 15 not out to seal the win. David Obuya attributed the loss to lack of experience in his players saying the players were learning.
“I thought we had put up a good score but the bowlers struggled. It will take time for them to be up there but I am sure they will come up well in coming days,” Obuya said.
