Africa-Press – Kenya. Sir Ali had another below-par batting performance and fell to Kanbis for the second match in a row as the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association 50 overs entered the fourth week on Sunday.
Batting first, Sir Ali failed to combat the spin threat of Kanbis and lost by eight wickets after posting 137 at Eastleigh High School.
It was also a spinner’s paradise at Peponi School as host Stray Lions gave Obuya Academy a rude welcome back in the league by bowling them out for 149 before sealing the win with six wickets in hand.
Irfan Ellahi and Zahid Abbas were Sir Ali’s standout batsmen playing some brave strokes on both side of the wicket.
They scored 37 and 32 runs respectively as they tried to rescue the innings. Siddharth Mhatre (21) and Sandip Andole (5) made their debut in the league with a second wicket stand of 19 runs before Kabaria picked his second.
They, however, managed to get a release in the fourth wicket stand of 34 between Abbas and skipper Gurdeep Singh.
Mikunj Pindoria bagged 3 for 24 with skipper Rajesh Bhudia picking two wickets too.
In reply, Kanbis’ start wasn’t the one they would have wished for as they lost both openers; Dhiren Gondaria (1) and Pushpak Kerai (5) in quick succession with the board on six.
But the decision to promote Rakep Patel to number three paid off as, together with Nelson Odhiambo, hit 14 boundaries and five sixes to register their third win. Patel scored a 64-ball 75 with Odhiambo scoring 53 from 51 balls.
At Peponi School, Shem Ngoche continued with his good run with the ball after bagging 4 for 21 as Obuya Academy were bowled out for 149.
The Obuya inning had threatened the home team with 147 for 4 at the start of 38th over but when Jayampathi Wijesinghe dismissed Kenney Obuya (43) it was a free throw for Ngoche and his troops. They lost the remaining wickets for two runs.
In reply, Alex Obanda made his debut at Stray Lions with 46 with Gary Chirumuuta adding on 37.
