Kongonis keep fingers crossed as Ngara ponder Samaj B downfall

The fight for the top crown in the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Division One League will go down to the wire on Sunday 1 October as two sides still hold a chance to automatically earn promotion to the top-tier ranks by the end of the season.

On one hand, longtime NPCA Division One League leaders Kenya Kongonis A believe that their dreams of clinching the 2023 Division 1 League are still valid despite a weekend of decisive action.

Kongonis last weekend wrapped up its league fixtures on the summit but are left cooling their heels for days!

With an apparently insatiable appetite for success, Kongonis signed off from the 10-team division with a convincing 7-wickets victory over Stray Lions B to cling onto the top of the log.

A Wait and See Situation.

Kongonis will nevertheless wait for the outcome of the eagerly anticipated match between third placed Ngara Sports Club A against neighbors Samaj B at Cutchi Leva ground to know their fate.

Should Ngara A emerge victorious in this match, then they will be tied on points (46), with Kongonis, and the title chase will be down to a Run Rate difference.

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“Yes, we are all eager to see if Ngara Sports Club will beat Samaj, which means that the title will go down to the run-rate difference," Kongonis captain Thomas Ojijo said on Thursday.

"All in all, I'm glad that the boys have played their hearts out throughout the season and kudos goes to them for their sacrifice and hard training. They are all agog about Sunday's outcome."

Whatever anyone may think, Ojijo holds the opinion that Kongonis are better placed to lift the coveted trophy, given their scintillating away record and going undefeated in all of their second leg games.

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The Run Rate Facet.

Ngara’s top order for Sunday's match is likely to feature Vishal Shikotra, Nikul Patel and captain Mantham Joshi.

Parth Patel, Mehul Patel, Dhyey Patel and Amitkumar Shukla are also expected to feature prominently for the run-hungry Ngara side.

So, to beat Kongonis to the title, Ngara A needs to bat first and score 300 against Samaj, then get them under 140.

And if they score 250, Ngara will need to get Samaj under 80.

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Rightly so, if Ngara manages to rack up 200, then they'll need to get Samaj out under 30, which should be a tall order for them.

In another Division One match, hosts Goan Institute A will take on Swamibapa B also on Sunday.

The Goans hope to move a berth up to sixth, where they stand a chance from the run rate difference should they decimate Swamibapa B.

A win for Goan will mean that the Pangani side equals Stray Lions B’s 28 points mark hence the run rate rule.