Swamibapa A crowned T20 League champions
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 03.03.26. | 08:35
The semi-finals, qualifiers and finals for Division One and Two are scheduled for next weekend
In a thrilling finale to the Nairobi County Cricket Association (NCCA) T20 League, Swamibapa A emerged victorious, defeating Sir Ali A by a resounding 10 wickets at the Ruaraka ground to retain their T20 crown in style.
The match was a masterclass by the Swamibapa A team, who showcased exceptional bowling and batting prowess without losing a single wicket.
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Sir Ali A, who won the toss and elected to bat first, were restricted to a paltry 88 runs in 17.2 overs.
Shem Ngoche was the star of the match, claiming 4 crucial wickets to help Swamibapa A restrict their opponents to a below-par total.
In response, Swamibapa A chased down the target with ease, thanks to an unbeaten partnership between Dhwanil Patel (56 off 47 balls) and Pankaj Sanghani (30 off 35).
The duo guided their team to a comfortable 10-wicket win, securing the championship title.
"We had a really good outing on Sunday," said Swamibapa, skipper Sachin Gill. "After winning all our league games and finishing first on the table, it was disappointing to lose the first qualifier (Q1). But we were confident that if we played to our potential, we could beat Sir Ali A in the final."
Gill extolled his team's discipline and strategy, which paid off in the end. "Our plan was simple - bowl in good areas, stay disciplined, and keep things tight. The boys executed that perfectly, and we managed to bowl them out for just 87."
Chasing 88, Sachin noted that focus was on staying calm and batting with responsibility, "We ended up chasing it without losing a wicket, which was a great way to finish the tournament and end it on a high," quipped Sachin.
Asked about his stellar performance that saw him guide Swamis to an unbeaten run in the League, Sachin highlighted, "Personally, it was a great experience leading the team to the championship, especially since we were missing some key batters due to injuries.
Credit to the youngsters who stepped up, filled in their boots, and delivered when it mattered most. I’m really proud of the whole group."
NCCA chairman, Kanti Rabadia, announced unprecedented cash rewards for the teams and individual awards.
"This is the first time in history that the Association (despite lacking sponsors) was able provide cash incentives to the teams and players," said Rabadia.
"Swamibapa team was awarded Ksh50,000 for winning the championship, with Sir Ali A receiving Ksh25,000 for finishing runners up in the seven-week highly competitive T20 league in Nairobi."
There were awards for the individual players as well. Irfan Karim claimed the best batter award after scoring 430 runs, while Sachin Siyani, the youngster from SCLPS A, won the best bowler award with 16 wickets.
Dhwanil Patel won the best fielder/wicket keeper award, and Faraz Ahmed, who was instrumental in Sir Ali’s dream run claiming the Most Valuable Player award.
Each of the winners was awarded Ksh5,000/- from NCCA.
The man of the match for the finals was Kenyan veteran Ngoche, who delivered his best spell when it mattered the most.
The young upcoming player award went to Paresh Kerai, who has bowled consistently well in this tournament for Swamibapa.