Winning start for champs Ruaraka ‘A’ as Ngara Aa’ beat Goan Institute

Champions Ruaraka A kick-started their title defense on a winning note decimating visiting Nairobi Gymkhana A by 111 runs at their Thika Road backyard.

In a match that kickstarted the 2024 Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) 50-Overs League, Gymkhana won the toss and opted to filed first.

Oozing confidence from the word go, Ruaraka were bowled out for 228 in 40.3 overs setting a decent target for their crease adversaries to chase.

In reply, Gymkhana were also bowled out for 117 in 31.1 thus losing their opening match of the season’s longer version which will continue for the next four months across various sporting venues.

Ruaraka made their match-winning intentions know as they delivered their first 52 runs in 7.4 overs

Pushkar Sharma and Prasad Abhyankar were the toast of the defending champions in a fixture that serves up great moments ahead in the longer version of the league. 

Pushkar smacked 48 off 41 balls whilst Abhyankar hit 45 off 39 delivers. Yuvraj Bhatyani was Gymkhana’s highest scorer racking up 31 runs off 53 balls.

The opening weekend only featured one Super Division fixture with action proper scheduled for next weekend. With several players having changed teams during the transfer window, it will be interesting to see how Ruaraka defend the coveted 50-overs title. Ruaraka lost their hitman Sachin Gill to Swamibapa and vowed to help his new side chalk up the league title.

And it was double celebration for Ruaraka as their B side also beat Nairobi Gymkhana by 102 runs at the latter’s backyard in Division One. 

It was a bitter pill for Gymkhana to swallow as their A and B teams bore the full brunt of Ruaraka, an experience they would want to forget in hurry. 

Ngara A who lost in their bid to return to top flight action last season, have also kickstarted their comeback campaign on a good not. 

Ngara beat Goan Institute by a massive 179 runs serving up great moments ahead in the second tire competition.

Shree Cutch Leva Patel Samaj (SCLPS YL B) also started their campaign with a 5-wickets victory over Stray Lions B at Peponi School.

Samaj had their campaign effectively sewn up when Yogesh Kabaria smackec an impressive 86 off 107 deliveries.

Libin Raj hit a century off 87 balls though his spirited effort and run on the crease couldn’t salvage Stray Lion’s situation. 

The NPCA Division 2 League also got off to a flying start at various venues, setting the pace for a great season of the third-tier competition.