NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 2 – One of the country’s oldest Cricket club Kenya Kongonis A has been promoted to the elite Super League after winning the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Division One title.
Kongonis achieved the feat without touching a bat at the weekend as they had finished their matches the previous weekend.
Their league title victory came to fruition after their closest crease adversaries Ngara Sports Club A failed to surpass their Net Run Rate.
Ngara played their hearts out, beating SCLPS YL B by 50 runs but their dream of returning to top flight status came a cropper with an inferior Run Rate difference which worked in favour of Kongonis.
Kongonis and Ngara tied on 46 points but the former prevailed much to the latter’s chagrin.
Kongonis wrapped up their league fixture on the weekend of September 24 with a deserved 7 wickets victory over Stray Lions B.
Ngara led by skipper Rajiv Sutaria won the toss in today’s match against home team Samaj B and elected to bat first; scoring 299 for the loss of 9 in their allotted 50 Overs.
In reply, Samaj B side were bowled out for 249 in 46.4 Overs.
Ngara’s opening batsman and skipper Rajiv smacked a century which sadly couldn’t salvage their spirited title chase.
But Kongonis prevailed with a Net Run Rate of 1.621 against Ngara’s 1.411.
In the other Division One match, Swamibapa B beat hosts Goan Institute A by 7 wickets.
Asked about their good run in the season, Kongonis Captain Thomas Ojijo quipped: “It’s the best feeling ever.”
Ojijo is happy that Kongonis: started off really well by winning 5 games in a row and here’s how he described their season: “We lost to Samaj on our first leg, on a game that I felt like we could have won anyway and that was our first loss in the league.”
“Losing momentum wasn’t in any of our plans and this loss to Samaj made the boys switch on better and bounce back much stronger.”
The Kongonis: skipper is grateful for the resilience his teammates displayed, by and large.
“I can’t talk much about the Swamis game, honestly, it was a mistake by everyone in the team …but I’m glad all and sundry kept their head down and kept fighting on for the title.”
Meanwhile, Ojijo believes their grand march to top flight action will open the mighty windows of opportunity for his teammates.
“Our pre-season preparation was the main thing. We elected to play friendlies with other top clubs before the league started, so we went into the competition with the much need confidence and enthusiasm.”
“The mood at Nairobi Club feels great, at least now most of the boys will get spotted and get call ups to the national team. Everyone is excited and anticipating to play top level to improve on our careers. All the players in the side are eager for national call ups,” said Ojijo in finality.
Kenya Kongonis was founded in 1927, and is one of the oldest and most prestigious cricket clubs in Kenya.
It takes part in the Nairobi-based NPCA (Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association) Leagues and in the national cricket tournaments.
