Nairobi Gymkhana claimed partial revenge for their stormy losses to Kanbis in the NPCA Super League last year with a 21-run win at home over the weekend.
Chasing a partly 137 for win after the lower order had lifted them to 136, the visitors made a steady start before losing wickets at heap to be restricted for 116 for nine. Electing to bat, the home side had a bad start, losing opener Kavi Dosaja for a duck. However, national team opener Irfan Karim and captain Karan Kaul, added 31 to get their side to 34 for 2 before the Kaul was caught on nine.
Karim then got his side past the 50 runs in a third wicket stand with Harsh Patel before the Karim was bowled out by Kanbis’ Rajesh Bhudia on 28 off 24 balls. Harsh Patel was the next wicket to fall when he was caught on 22 off Bhudia. Oluoch, Nikul and Thomas Odoyo later on contributed twenties to lead their side to a final score of 136 for 8.
Kanbis openers once again failed to give their side a decent start as Narendra Kalyan was dismissed for five by Bhavya Thakker. Dhiren Gondaria and Rakep Patel then got their side to 41 runs before Thakker got his second wicket by having Rakep Patel caught on 13.
Gondaria fell immediately after, to leaving the visitors on 56 for 3. Vinod Rabadia (17) and Bhudia (28) looked poised to get their side past the finishing line but as soon as Rabadia was dismissed by Nikul Patel, Kanbis hopes of winning dipped with Oluoch bagging three in 12 balls.
Delighted with the victory, Karan Kaul lauded the stellar performance of his bowlers.
“I can’t ask for more. The opening bowlers gave us a good start and later on Lucas and Nikul came on and picked crucial wickets,” he said.
In other match, Alex Obanda’s second half century of the tournament and Jadavji Bhimji’s five wickets haul led host Swamibapa to an eight-wicket win over Kongonis at Nairobi Jafferys.
Chasing 116 to win, Swamibapa lost only two wickets before registering their third straight win. Obanda top-scored with 60 runs that included three sixes and seven fours before he fell to Martin Okoth. Obanda and Nicholas Oluoch put on an opening stand of 102 runs before Oluoch was sent back to the pavilion by David Waters on 27. Chris Childs and Newton Muthee were Kongonis top scorers with 23 and 19 runs respectively as Bhimji ran through the batting order with five wickets.