Kericho Go Top in Akshar League With Big Win

Shailesh Reports from Nakuru:

"After the heavy torrential rains that we recieved in Nakuru on Saturday evening, it looked impossible for us to have a game on water logged ground on Sunday.
The game had to start half an hour late to allow the pitch to be dried up, though the Lake Side End bowlers run up was still soaked and impossible to bowl from. In order to have any game at all, both captains agreed to bowl from one end only.
Naivasha won the toss and decided to field, and Kericho made a slow but cautious start. In the first 7 overs Naivasha they dropped 3 vital catches, which ultimately cost them the game. Kericho were 47 for no loss at one stage untill Shabaz struck and was on hatrick to peg back the Kericho team progress."

Kericho then rallied thanks to Dilpesh and Toxy before a couple of late wickets, and retirements left them on 8-232 at the end of their allotted overs. Any score over 200 can be considered very strong on Nakuru's pitch, and Naivasha will rue the 60 extras that they gave away. In reply, Naivasha never looked like being in the hunt, and a steady stream of batsmen trailed back to the pavilion as they crumbled to 72 all out. Jignesh and Akshay picking up 3 wickets a piece were the picks of the day's bowling for Kericho. Kericho pick up maximum points for the match which shoots them into top spot, while Naivasha only garner 3 points for their bowling. All credit to the captains for making sure this game went ahead, and congratulations to the men from the highlands on an emphatic victory!

Scorecard:

Kericho Innings:
Rashmi........................Ct and B..... Shahbaz.....20
Nilesh..........................Ct Raj......... Shahbaz.....11
Jignesh........................LBW............Shahbaz.....00
Toxy.............................Bowled........Himanshu..30
Dilpesh........................Ct Himanshu..Sharad....41
Akshay.........................LBW............Sharad.......02
Dhiren.........................Ct and B.....Shahbaz......24
Yitish...........................Retired............................11
lalji..............................Retired............................24
Vipul...........................Not out............................8
Dipen..........................Bowled........Amardeep...01
Extras..................................................................60
Total For 8 Wickets.........................................232

Naivasha's Innings:
Himanshu...............Run Out.............................01
Sharat......................Ct & B..............Jignesh.....10
Amardeep...............Bowled.............Jignesh.....00
Shailesh P...............Ht Wicket.......Jignesh......00
Indraj......................Ct & B..............Akshay......16
Shahbaz..................Bowled.............Akshay......12
Raj...........................Not out..............................16
Nishit......................Bowled.............Akshay......01
Akbar......................Not out..............................00
Jaimin....................Run Out.............................01
Jayesh p..................Retired Hurt....................00
Extras.................................................................16
Total All Out.....................................................72

NB: I suspsect one of the 'not outs'should read 'run out'

POINTS STANDINGS AFTER 3 GAMES:

TEAM.........PLYD....WON.......LOST....BAT...BWL...WIN...TOTAL
KERICHO.......1................1...........0...........4.......4..........12........20
ELDORET.......1................1..........0...........1.......4..........12.........17
VOC.................1................1..........0............1.......4..........12.........17
DIAMOND......1...............0..........1.............0......4..........0...........4
AKSHAR..B ....1...............0...........1............1.......2..........0...........3
NAIVASHA....1................0..........1............0.......3..........0...........3
AKSHAR..A....0................0.........0............0.......0.........0...........0