Patel fires Kanbis to league win

Swamibapa's Irfan Karim bats during their Nairobi Province Cricket Association Super League match against Kanbis on September 24, 2017 at Nairobi Jaffreys Sports Club. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • It was a battle of the giants at the Jaffreys ground on Sunday as hosts Swamibapa and Kanibs clashed in a thrilling Nairobi Provisional Cricket Association super league match.
  • Kanbis’ match winner, Rakep Patel, blasted a scintillating century, 148 runs that came off 111 deliveries with 18 boundaries and five towering sixes, that helped his team to beat Swamibapa by 61 runs.
  • Kanbis collected 19 points from the victory and maintained their lead on the points table with 135 points

It was a battle of the giants at the Jaffreys ground on Sunday as hosts Swamibapa and Kanibs clashed in a thrilling Nairobi Provisional Cricket Association super league match.

Kanbis’ match winner, Rakep Patel, blasted a scintillating century, 148 runs that came off 111 deliveries with 18 boundaries and five towering sixes, that helped his team to beat Swamibapa by 61 runs.

Kanbis collected 19 points from the victory and maintained their lead on the points table with 135 points. As for Swamibapa, they got seven points and are third with 117 points.

The league has become a three-horse race. Second placed Stray Lions (237 for 7 in 50 overs) beat Sikh Union (197 all out in 43.3 overs) who were at home by 40 runs.

The Lions got 18 points and retained their second position on points table with 130 points. The Lions’ opening batsman Abraham Vadada knocked unbeaten ton, 121 off 100 balls with 12 boundaries.

At Jaffreys ground, Kanbis batted first and set a target of 326 by the time all their batsmen were sent back to the pavilion with 13 balls of their allotted 50 overs in hand.

Rakep had one life, he was dropped at point by Morris Ouma with a score of four runs, he capitalised on his second chance and was Kanbis’ highest runs getter.

Narendra Patel (48 off 36 balls with six boundaries and three sixes), Nelson Odhiambo (40 off 53 balls with five boundaries) and Ajay Vachetta (25 off 22 balls with three boundaries) were the other Kanbis’ batsmen who posted meaningful figures on the scoreboard.

Rakep shared a third wicket stand of 155 with Odhiambo, the best partnership for the side.

Emmanuel Bundi was Kanbis’ main executioner taking four wickets for 95. Lameck Onyango (2/42), Jadavji Bhimji (1/57) and Krisna Babu (1/39) were the other wicket takers.

In reply, Swamibapa scored 264 with a wicket in hand when they completed their overs. Irfarn Karim scored a second century in two successive outings. His 108 came off 119 balls with 10 boundaries and three sixes.

Karim shared a second wicket partnership of 62 with Alex Obanda (44 off 48 balls with seven boundaries). Morris Ouma (13 off 23 balls) was the other batsman who posted double digit figures on the scoreboard.

Rajesh Bhudia (3/35) was Kanbis’ highest wicket taker. Narendra (2/59), Odhiambo (1/18), Pushpak Kerai (1/62) and Vinod Rabadia (1/11) also took wickets.