Tripple victory for Swamis as KANBIS ‘A’ decimate Ruaraka ‘A’

The eagerly-awaited Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) 2025 cricket season finally got underway at various grounds after a long break.

With an apparently insatiable appetite for runs and wickets, Swamibapa outfits were in imperious form as the season-opening Twenty20 action kicked-off at various venues in the city.

In what turned out to be a flawless start to the season, immediate former T 20 Champions Swamibapa 'A', their second-tier side Swamibapa 'B' and their emerging lads, Swamibapa Development registered impressive wins, by and large.

At Nairobi Jaffrey’s, the Rushabh Patel-led Swamibapa A began the T20 title campaign with a composed seven-wicket win against newly-promoted Ngara Sports Club 'A'.

Skipper Rushabh (22 off 14 balls) and Sachin Gill (35 off 18 balls) were the toast of the well- oiled Swamibapa A side on the bat as their teammate Vraj Patel chalked-up 4 wickets much to his credit.

Sir Ali got their T20 campaign off to a flying start with Simran Mehta, one of their overseas professionals, striking the league’s first century with unbeaten 104 off only 50 balls with 14 fours and 4 sixes.

Kenya Kongonis batted well to score a decent 164/6 with returning Alex Obanda scoring a fine 43 off 34 balls. 

Sir Ali chased the score comfortably with the loss of only two wickets to kick off their campaign on a winning note.

At Jamhuri High Grounds, Swamibapa B defeated Ngara Sports Club B by 7 wickets as Swamibapa Development handed Wolves Cricket Club ‘B’ a slim two- wickets blow.

- Ngara Goes Down Fighting -

Double losers for the weekend Ngara have retained all its existing players as they test the waters of Super League with the current crop of players who have previously done well at the highest level.

Ngara B Team Manager Harsh Patel remarked:

“Unfortunately we have a couple of injuries sidelining a few star players from last season thus being out for unknown time but we do expect the experience of Nikul, Mehul, Amit and Akash to take the team through the difficult phases.

"We also want to see the mettle of our youngsters assisting the batting and bowling unit and expecting them to excel.”

- Double Victory for Kanbis at Eastleigh Grounds -

In mouthwatering Eastleigh derbies, hosts Kanbis A maintained their dogged campaign in search of the coveted T20 title with a six-wicket victory over visiting Ruaraka ‘A’.

Kanbis ‘A’ has over the years proved impregnable at their home turf and they finished the job in bravado, thanks to Sachin Bhudia’s 61 off 33 balls and skipper Dhiren Gondaria’ s 51 off 15 deliveries.

Completing a double victory for the weekend, the Eastleigh based club had their (Kanbis) B team rack-up a seven-wicket win over Ruaraka ‘ A’.

In another Super Division match, home team Sikh Union A savored a seamless start to the season with a 41-run win over defending champions Stray Lions.

Sikh Union skipper Sukhdeep Singh praised his teammates for a great start to the T20 season, adding:

“Fabulous job by the team. A great start to the season, I must admit, and we are glad to have our team play as a unit. We are glad to have our young team giving their level best and the energy was amazing at the ground.

"For this season, we will rely a lot on our performers from last season; Shubham Patel, Jasraj Kundi and Satish Hirani. We have decided to give a few young guys a chance and see how it can help them develop themselves in the coming future.”

NPCA T20-WEEK 1 RESULTS 

NPCA DIVISION 2

1. NRB JAFFERY’S: Stray Lions D 165/7 (20.0 Ov); Nairobi Royal Team 124/7 (20.0 Ov)-Stray Lions D win by 41 Runs

2. NRB CLUB: Kenya Kongonis B 153/7 (20.0 Ov); Medics C. Cub 61/10 (17.3 Ov)- Kongionis B won by 92 runs

3. GOAN INST: Legends CC A 241/6 (20.0 Ov); Goan Institute B 118/7 (20.0 Ov)- Legends A won by 123 runs

4. Nairobi Gymkhana B 210/3 (20.0 Ov); Sikh Union Development 44/10 (15.5 Ov)- Gymkhana B won 166 runs

5. PEPONI: Stray Lions C 128/10 (20.0 Ov); An-nadil Jamaly A 119/7 (20.0 Ov)-Stray Lions C won by 9 runs

6. PEPONI SCHOOL: Legends CC B 92/10 (17.5 Ov); SCLPS Development 95/1 (11.2Ov); SCLPS Development won 9 wickets

7. JAMHURI: Wolves CC B 123/9 (20.0Ov); Swamibapa Development 124/8 (20.0 Ov); Swamibapa Development won by 2 wickets

NPCA DIVISION 1

1. JAMHURI HIGH: Ngara Sports Club B 85/7 (20.0 Ov); Swamibapa B 86/3 (12.4 Ov); Swamibapa B won by 7 wickets

2. EASTLEIGH GROUNDS: Ruaraka B 92/10 (19.1 Ov); Kanbis B 96/3 (13.1 Ov)-Kanbis B won by 7 wickets

3. SIKH UNION NAIROBI: Stray Lions B 162/7 (20.0 Ov); Sikh Union B 96/8 (20.0 Ov)- Stray Lions B won by 66 runs

NPCA SUPER DIVISION

1. SIKH UNION CLUB: Sikh Union A 155/9 (20.0 Ov); Stray Lions 114/10 (18.0 Ov)-S.U. A won by 41 runs

2. NAIROBI JAFFERY’S: Ngara A 74/10 (18.0 Ov); Swamibapa A 75/3 (7.4 Ov); Swamibapa won by 7 wickets

3. SIR ALI CLUB: Kenya Kongonis A 164/6 (20.0 Ov); Sir Ali Muslim Club A 167/2 (14.4 Ov); Sir Ali A won by 8 wickets

4. EASTLEIGH GROUNDS: Ruaraka A 183/4 (20.0Ov); Kanbis A 187/4 (14.4 Ov)-Kanbis A won by 6 wickets

5. NRB GYMKHANA: SCLPS A 177/8 (20.0Ov); Nairobi Gymkhana A 124/7 (20.0Ov);- SCLPS A won by 53 runs