Kanbis teams scooped the majority of the awards including the 2022/23 overall title after the Eastleigh High School-based side swept the board with victories in the 50-Overs League Super Division, Division One, and Division Two.
Kanbis ‘A’ won the League title, Kanbis ‘B’ won the Division One while the Development team clinched the Division Two crown.
Stray Lions ‘A’ were feted for clinching the 2021/22 50 Overs League Super Division League in the ahead of Kanbis ‘A’.
Swamibapa ‘A’ were also feted after they got their mitts on the 2022/23 Knockouts trophy with Ruaraka the runners-up.
Thika Road-based Ruaraka ‘A’ were bestowed with the coveted 2023/24 50-Overs League trophy; their first ever after they beat Kanbis on the final matchday.
Nairobi Club-based Kenya Kongonis ‘A’ collected their silverware for lifting the 2023/24 50 Overs League. Kongonis ‘A’ tied on 46 points with Ngara Sports Club ‘A’ but the former were home and dry on the Net Run Rate Rule.
Kongonis, one of the oldest cricket clubs in the country, will be joining the elite Super Division ranks next season following their Division One triumph.
Sikh Union Development received a standing ovation from the audience for scooping their maiden league title in Division Three during the 2023/24 season.
Ruaraka’s high-flying professional Sachin Gill emerged the 2023/24 50 Overs League’s Most Valuable Player.
Sachin, Pushkar Sharma and Maxwell Swaminathan were the toast of the well-oiled Ruaraka outfit.
Stray Lions dangerman Shuhbam Jadhav was feted as the 2023/24 season’s highest run scorer with an amazing 966 from 14 innings.
Jadhav is out of the country but will link up with his teammates in time for the T20 season which starts in January.
Kanbis’ skipper Dhiren Gondaria was feted as the highest run scorer for the 2018/19 season while best wicket taker Rajesh Bhudiya and best fielder Rushab Patel were also recognised.
Kongonis’ superstar Jitendra Singh Gariya was the 2023/24 highest run scorer in Division One with a total of 494. He was also feted as the player of the series in the second-tier league.
NPCA Chairman Kanti Rabadia lauded teams, officials and individual winners while revealing that the awards gala will be held annually.
“We are also looking forward to awarding man-of-the-match players, if we get sponsors on board. This will definitely make the competitions more exciting. We are calling on sponsors and well-wishers to come and support us,” said Rabadia.
The NPCA Hon Secretary Narendra Patel aka NK said: “We couldn’t do it (hold the awards gala) on an annual basis over the past few seasons due to unavoidable circumstances, including the global outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.”
