Ouma tops run chart as Swamibapa hammer Kanbis

Arm Spinner Rajesh Kahar, left, and Wicket Keeper Morris Ouma of Swamibapa Cricket Club appeals against Stray Lions during Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association 2015/16 league season at Nairobi Gymkana on Sunday, Feb 14, 2016. PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD.

Swamibapa Sports Club are at the top of the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) League table after hammering Kanbis Sports Club by 185 runs in the most anticipated clash of the season.

In other week five results, Stray Lions Cricket Club buried Nairobi Gymkhana under a pile of 197 runs while Sikh Union made a resounding 55-run victory over Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club.

At Nairobi Jaffereys Academy, Morris Ouma topped the run charts with an 85-ball 80, guiding Swamibapa to 8/299 off 50 overs.

Ouma steadied the ship in the absence of both openers, with four fours and four sixes to his tally. Fellow national team all-rounder Nehemiah Odhiambo stole the show with a scintillating 41-ball 72, dispatching nine boundaries and one maximum. Willing to extend the show, Odhiambo bagged 2/13 off 6 overs that included two maidens, accounting for both of Kanbis’s openers.

Rakesh Kahar similarly put on a bat and ball simulation for the hosts, scoring a 47-ball 41 before registering stunning figures of 2/09 off four overs with three maidens. Even so, it was Saumil Patel who bagged the lion’s share with 3/29 off 10 overs.

Kanbis crumbled under the fiery bowling, wrapping up their innings in only 35.2 overs with only Rakep Patel (32) and Nelson Odhiambo (27) managing meaningful figures.

At Peponi School, Stray Lions made minced meat of Gymkhana’s bowling, amassing 4/308 at the close.

New signing Shem Ngoche finally made his mark in the den with an unbeaten 132-ball 150, whacking 14 fours and three sixes. Coming back to star with the ball, the left arm bowler picked 3/21 off just seven overs with two maidens.

Ngoche shared a lucrative partnership with ex-Kenya international Tanmay Mishra, adding 198 runs to the third wicket before Raj Savala had Mishra playing back to him his 109th delivery three runs shy of his maiden season ton.

In reply, Gymkhana stumbled and fell like dominoes, their batting plan puny in the Lions’ bowling. Nikul Patel (20) top scored while Raj Savala and Harsh Patel matched up scores of 17.

Skipper Hiren Varaiya’s fine form bore 4/21 off six overs with Wilkin Moja netting 2/29 for Stray Lions.

In a separate fixture at Nairobi Club, Dola Abala’s half century was barely enough as Kongonis fell to Sikh Union by 55 runs. Abala’s 70 lasted 109 balls as he put on a 68-run stand for the fourth wicket with Dominic Wesonga (17).

Earlier, the visitors who were sent in to bat set a target of 212 runs with contributions from Chirag Sisodia (44), Abdul Rehman (34) and Hamza Amir (31).

Martin Okoth (3/44) and Emmanuel Opura (3/39) starred with the ball for Kongonis while Gangandeep Singh and Nadeem Ahmed starred for Sikh Union with 2/17 and 2/27 respectively.

The Super League takes a three-week break and will resume on August21, 2016.