Goan Institute (GI) are expected to hold sway and play some good cricket as the eagerly awaited Nairobi Cricket Provincial (NPCA) Under-19 50-Overs League starts at various venues.
GI U-19, whose A side plays in the second tier Division One in the 50-Overs League and T20, will be up against hosts Kanbis in one of the two Group A fixtures at the latter’s Eastleigh High School backyard.
No matter what anyone may think, GI troops hope to show scant respect to the Eastleigh giants who have incidentally maintained a scintillating reputation on home turf.
For the all-important runs, GI are expected to lean heavily on the likes of Aditya Kerai, Darshil Suthar, Dhruv Mepani, Krishv Senghani and Krit Patel, who are expected to be outstanding when the season gets underway.
The start of the Under 19 League was moved a week ahead following heavy rains which rendered the preferred venues unplayable given the sodden state of the cricket squares.
At Nairobi Club, hosts Kongonis will be up against Sikh Union in what is easily one of Group A’s highlights.
The match pits two run-hungry outfits but it could be safe, truly safe, to say that the Sikhs will fight to shrug off the hosts’ local knowledge.
Kongonis’ teams have played well at home and will truly try to make their home advantage count as they seek to tame the visitors, by and large.
In the revised fixtures, the star-studded Nairobi Gymkhana, with the bulk of the national under-19 team players will not be required to swing their bats as they have a bye for Matchday One.
Further, Kanbis Under 19s will be angling to cast away the disappointment of their A side being defeated in the T20 season, which is the reason why the Eastleigh troops should be extra cautious in the encounter.
The player to watch in Kanbis’ outfit this weekend is none other than Harshil Varsani, their left arm off spin star, who plays for Kanbis A in the NPCA Super League.
In a Group B clash, Swamibapa U19 could be utterly ruthless against hosts SCLPS U19; but whatever’s up the sleeves of its players in both teams will be known at the weekend when the clash wears on.
Darsh Panchani, the SCLPS Super League opening batsman, Ankit Bhanderi their Super League all-rounder and Aditya Vekaria, the recent U19 debutant in the Easter Youth Games 2024 in Uganda should be outstanding for the hosts.
Harendra Kerai and Prashang Hirani are the hard-hitters for the Swamibapa A Super League side expected to shine for their Under 19 outfit over the weekend.
In Ruaraka, fans should be treated to a thriller in the Thika Road Derby between Ruaraka U19 and CK Development.
Following a dismal performance in the T20 League in which their A side failed to reach the knockout stage, Ruaraka Under 19s are seeking to haul themselves up from the basement by any means possible.
Nitish Hirani, the Super League Ruaraka side player, will Skipper the Under-19 team.
Sun/14/04/24
Group A
9:30 am Kongonis U19 VS Sikh Union U19 at NAIROBI CLUB
9:30 am Kanbis U19 VS GI U19 at EASTLEIGH
9:30 am Nairobi Gymkhana U19 BYE
Group B
9:30 am Ruaraka U19 VS CK Development at RUARAKA
9:30 am B SCLPS U19 VS Swamibapa U19 at SCLPS
9:30 am B Obuya Academy U19 VS BYE Bye
