Nairobi Titans etched their names in history by becoming the first team to win a match in the inaugural Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Women’s League, which commenced at Ruaraka Sports Club last weekend.
Led by Sajni Shah, Mirali Fof, and Yesha Desai, the Titans secured an 8-wicket victory over the Silver Cheetahs in the league’s opening game, which features teams from eight different squads.
Despite their defeat, the Silver Cheetahs’ Nisha Kerai emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP), remaining not out and scoring the most runs in the match with an impressive 33 off 31 deliveries.
The Cheetahs won the toss and chose to bat first, putting up a score of 84 for one in 20 overs. The Titans responded robustly, reaching 85 for 2 in just 8 overs. However, Titans’ captain and opener Akshi Shah managed only 9 runs off 9 balls before being caught by Anshi Bhanderi. Fof contributed 13 runs from 21 balls before being caught by Dhrum Rabadia.
Reflecting on the game, Titans’ batter Sajni Shah remarked, “It was a good pitch. We batted second and won; nevertheless, the ball did not strike the boundaries, so we attempted to score as many runs as possible. We had a few wides, but overall, it was a terrific game. It feels great to start the season with a win, and we aim to maintain this momentum in the upcoming matches as well.”
When asked about the team’s future strategy, Sajni added, “We need to concentrate on our bowling; I believe we gave away too many wides. We’ll strive to correct this, especially in the next few games. We also aim to improve our batting and hit some boundaries; I don’t think there were any in this game, but we’ll keep the same spirit moving forward.”
MVP Nisha Kerai commented on the Silver Cheetahs’ performance, saying, “Unfortunately, our bowling was not up to par; it was very tough. But then again, you live to fight another day. We need to improve our bowling and fielding, which are critical for the team.”
With the NPCA Women’s League off to an exciting start, all eyes will be on the teams as they continue to compete in this groundbreaking tournament, showcasing the growing talent and enthusiasm for women’s cricket in Nairobi.
Reported By Meshack Awino.
