Swamibapa end Ruaraka’s unbeaten run as century-hungry Jadhav topples Gill in NPCA 50 over league

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CRICKET Swamibapa end Ruaraka’s unbeaten run as century-hungry Jadhav topples Gill in NPCA 50 over league

Joel Omotto 14:21 - 28.08.2023

The Swamis brought an end to Ruaraka’s nine-match unbeaten run to reduce the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association leaders’ advantage to four points.

Swamibapa A ended Ruaraka’s nine-match unbeaten run in a pulsating Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association 50 Over League match at Nairobi Jaffery’s grounds on Sunday.

Visiting ‘Thika Road troops’ were hoping to extend their lead in the NPCA log on Matchday 10 and eventually wrap up the league title in sensational style, but not until the Swamis chalked up a 59-run win on home turf and shatter Ruaraka's early celebrations.

Following the dramatic end to the 10th league weekend, the gap between the run-away leaders Ruaraka and second-placed Stray Lion has now decreased to four points which is not a comfortable zone for the leaders going into the last four fixtures that could complicate matters for the Thika Road-based side should they falter in any of their remaining ties.

Swamibapa A captain Rushabh Patel breathed a sigh of relief despite having dropped four matches and dipping to fourth position on the log.

At Jaffery’s, Ruaraka’s game plan started to crumble when two of their finest batsmen in the series, Pushkar Sharma (67-from 60) and Sachin Gil (32-from 29) were sent back to the pavilion.

The Swamis won the toss and elected to bat first, on a dry and flat wicket, scoring 300 for the loss of nine in their allotted 50 overs.

Chasing a decent target, Ruaraka could only manage 241/9 in 50 overs and were under immense pressure when their wickets continued to fall.

Skipper Patel (70 from 60 deliveries) and his namesake Dhwanil Patel (76 from 92) were the most outstanding players from the well-oiled Swamibapa.

At Eastleigh grounds, Vinod Rabadia (87 from 64) Rakep Patel (81 from 50 which included seven boundaries and five sixes) Jignesh Kerai and Sachin Bhudia both scored impressive half centuries and starred as Kanbis A decimated Nairobi Gymkhana by 107 runs.

Gymkhana’s Purohit Bharat was incidentally the match’s highest scorer with 97 off 78 balls, made up of 13 boundaries and 3 sixes.

Shubham Jadhav’s century at Lenana School ground did not just hand ruthless Stray Lions a seven-wicket win over Obuya Academy A but saw him dislodge Sachin Gill (500) from the run leader board. Gill has held the run lead for only a week after dismissing long-time leader Dhiren Gondaria (now fourth with 455 runs).

After 10 innings of brilliant displays, Jadhav now tops the run leaderboard with 547 runs after he struck a 128 off 86 balls.

Stray Lions won the toss and elected to field first. Abhishek Sharma (112 from 138 deliveries) and Rakesh Kumar Meena (50 off 71) were the most outstanding players in the Obuya Academy outfit which scored 223 all out in their 50 overs.

Meanwhile, Nehemiah Odhiambo’s (47 off 49) fine batting effort helped Sikh Union ‘A’ defeat SCLPS YL ‘A’ by 17 runs in another Super Division match played at Cutch Leva ground in Nairobi West.

Sikh Union won the toss and opted to bat first and were bowled out in 44.2 Overs with the scoreboard reading 158.

Chasing the seemingly slim target, hosts Samaj A were also bowled out for 141 in just 29.0 Overs to hand the Sikhs a slim 17 run victory. The chief destroyer for the Sikhs was Odhiambo who had a haul of five for 50 in his nine over spell with one maiden.

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