Stray Lions maul Swamis in T20 clash

Stray Lions beat defending champions Swamibapa by 16 runs in a Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Twenty20 league match played yesterday at Peponi School, Ruiru. The win saw the reigning NPCA Super League Kings make five wins out of five outings to enhance their chances of bagging this year’s title of the shorter version of the game.

Brilliant bowling from legendary Maurice Odumbe and good batting from Neil Narvekar gave Lions an edge over unrelenting Swamis. Odumbe grabbed four crucial wickets including dependable Alex Obanda destroying Swamibapa’s attack to see his side that had batted first, carry the day. Narvekar on the other hand led Lions in batting, missing the half ton mark by four runs.

After redeeming himself with the ball, having failed to excel with the bat, skipper Odumbe admitted his side struggled in their innings, falling short of their target by close to 40 runs. “Our batting was nothing to write home about and I hope that we improve with every match we play because the competition just began and we still have a long way to go,” Odumbe said.

He said an early injury on their main man Roger Mukasa in the second over could have contributed to their distress with the bat. “We expected more runs from Mukasa and we almost crumbled when he was forced off the crease because of a head injury,” he said.

Mukasa, a Ugandan international was bounced on the head by veteran Lameck Onyango before he could even settle in the game shortening his stint at the crease.

Narvekar scored 46 runs off 33 balls before he was caught and bowled by Saumil Patel. Saumil proved to be a pain in the neck of Lion’s players as he went ahead to eliminate two more including Odumbe on a duck and Abraham Vadada on 10 off 14 deliveries. Jay Mehta was second on Lions scorecard with 27 off 29, but was bowled out by Onyango who also dismissed Harrison Ambani.

Rakesh Kehar bowled Ugandan import Charles Waiswa and Abhishek Subramanian and also run out old hand Collins Obuya.

Obanda once again stood out for the Swamis leading the scores with 48 off 48 deliveries before Odumbe came calling to bow him out. Odumbe went on a rampage trapping leg before Emmanuel Bundi 24(18), Nehemiah Odhiambo 3(4) and Onyango on a golden duck.

Obuya took two wickets bowling Saumil on a golden duck and Maurice Ouma 19(17). Naman Patel and Kehar were not lucky walking off the crease on ducks as they were eliminated by Wilkin Mota and Waiswa respectively.

Nairobi Gymkhana beat their guests Kongonis by 22 runs in another encounter. Karan Kaul top scored for Gymkhana with 38 off 44 while Abdul Najmi had 34 off 17.

Stray Lions beat defending champions Swamibapa by 16 runs in a Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Twenty20 league match played yesterday at Peponi School, Ruiru. The win saw the reigning NPCA Super League Kings make five wins out of five outings to enhance their chances of bagging this year’s title of the shorter version of the game.

Brilliant bowling from legendary Maurice Odumbe and good batting from Neil Narvekar gave Lions an edge over unrelenting Swamis. Odumbe grabbed four crucial wickets including dependable Alex Obanda destroying Swamibapa’s attack to see his side that had batted first, carry the day. Narvekar on the other hand led Lions in batting, missing the half ton mark by four runs.

After redeeming himself with the ball, having failed to excel with the bat, skipper Odumbe admitted his side struggled in their innings, falling short of their target by close to 40 runs. “Our batting was nothing to write home about and I hope that we improve with every match we play because the competition just began and we still have a long way to go,” Odumbe said.

He said an early injury on their main man Roger Mukasa in the second over could have contributed to their distress with the bat. “We expected more runs from Mukasa and we almost crumbled when he was forced off the crease because of a head injury,” he said.

Mukasa, a Ugandan international was bounced on the head by veteran Lameck Onyango before he could even settle in the game shortening his stint at the crease.

Narvekar scored 46 runs off 33 balls before he was caught and bowled by Saumil Patel. Saumil proved to be a pain in the neck of Lion’s players as he went ahead to eliminate two more including Odumbe on a duck and Abraham Vadada on 10 off 14 deliveries. Jay Mehta was second on Lions scorecard with 27 off 29, but was bowled out by Onyango who also dismissed Harrison Ambani.

Rakesh Kehar bowled Ugandan import Charles Waiswa and Abhishek Subramanian and also run out old hand Collins Obuya.

Obanda once again stood out for the Swamis leading the scores with 48 off 48 deliveries before Odumbe came calling to bow him out. Odumbe went on a rampage trapping leg before Emmanuel Bundi 24(18), Nehemiah Odhiambo 3(4) and Onyango on a golden duck.

Obuya took two wickets bowling Saumil on a golden duck and Maurice Ouma 19(17). Naman Patel and Kehar were not lucky walking off the crease on ducks as they were eliminated by Wilkin Mota and Waiswa respectively.

Nairobi Gymkhana beat their guests Kongonis by 22 runs in another encounter. Karan Kaul top scored for Gymkhana with 38 off 44 while Abdul Najmi had 34 off 17.