Journalists gear up for Sunday's Media Challenge

Story Courtesy Dun Okinyo

Speaking after the pooling of the teams where both the men and women national team sides players were also informed of the media houses they will play for in the inaugural event, national team captain Maurice Ouma who will lead the Star team said the event promises to be entertaining and at the same time promised to lead his side to victory.

“I expect it to be an entertaining event if the enthusiasm we have seen in the teams is anything to go by. Teams have shown a lot o desire to play the game and we and so what is remaining is for them to turn up make it a success,” Ouma said.
However no team will have the services of former national team captain Steve Tikolo and vice captain Thomas Odoyo who are out of the country at the moment. The two are in Zimbabwe for a professional stint.

Pool A has Star, KBC Idhaa, People and Citizen while Pool B has East FM, KTN, KBC Channel One and K24. Pool C will have Nation, Jambo Radio and Standard.

Ouma will be joined by Africa record holder Sarah Bhakita in the Star team. Bhakita hit unbeaten 186 runs in Kenya thrashing of Rwanda last year in Nairobi.
National team vice Captain Jimmy Kamande and Pearlyne Omamo will lead Citizen TV’s quest for the title while Nation will boost of former Warwickshire star Collins Obuya and Marie Aimee.

Aimee an opening batsman and wicket keeper is just from leading Kenya to a third spot in the just concluded Africa Women Youth Championships in Tanzania while Obuya is from a one month High Performance Camp in South Africa.

“The grouping looks fine and I looking forward for the day so that we can see what the journalists have to offer,” Obuya said

In South Africa, Obuya alongside Rakep Patel, Alex Obanda and Ouma were taken through intensive batting coaching ahead of the 2011 World Cup in Asia.
East FM who are poised to give the other teams a run for their money will be joined by upcoming star Dominic Wesonga and Maureen Mutunga. KTN and Standard newspaper will boost of the services of Obanda, Margaret Banja, David Obuya and Emily Ruto respectively. Ruto is the captain of the national ladies team.

KBC two teams will have the services of Nehemiah Odhiambo, Belinda Maska, Alfred Luseno and Mercyline Odhiambo to bank on in the 11 team’s show that starts at 8am. Jambo FM will have national team opening bowler Peter Ongondo and Ruth Mwihaki while People Daily will have Patel and Mary Belle.
Sylvia Wairimu and Elijah Otieno will be expected to lead K24 with their bowling strengths.

NPCA Bags and Balers Semi Final Results

NPCA - BAGS AND BALERS LTD 40 OVERS KNOCK-OUT TOURNAMENT
GROUP A - SEMI-FINALS
29th.Nov
2009	TEAM	TEAM	VENUE	RESULTS
	Swamibapa 'A'	Kanbis 'B'	Ngara	Swamibapa 'A' won by
	70 / 6 Wkts	69 All Out		4 Wkts
	Stray Lions 'A'	Kanbis 'A'	Premier	Kanbis 'A' won by 65 Runs
	112 All Out	177 All Out
	Peter Kituku - 41	Ramesh Mepani - 36
	David Obuya - 28	Rakep Patel - 27
	Rohit Vekaria - 4/15	Josphat Ababu - 4/27
	Rajesh Bhudia - 2/20	Jimmy Kamande - 2/31
GROUP A - PLATE SEMI-FINALS
	Nairobi Gymkhana	Premier	Simba Union	Nairobi Gymkhana won
	195 All Out	92 All Out		by 103 Runs
	Vikram Thampy - 73	Jigar Patel - 16
	Karan Kaul - 29	Vijay Patel - 10
	Brijan Patel - 4/31	Lucas Olouch - 6/17
	Shaishav Patel - 2/29	Mahendra Asani - 3/19
GROUP B - QUARTER FINALS
29th.Nov	Aga Khan	Qutbis	Parklands	Aga Khan won
2009
GROUP B - SEMI-FINALS
	Goan Institute 'A'	Simba Union	Ruaraka	Goan Institute 'A' won by
	198 / 9 Wkts	166 All Out		32 Runs
GROUP B - PLATE SEMI - FINALS
	Goan Institute 'B'	Oshwal	Pindolia	Goan Institute 'B' won by
	145 / 7 Wkts	144 All Out		3 Wkts
	Golden XI	Parklands	Ngara	Parklands won

The teams that has qualified for the finals are as follows:

GROUP A MAIN Swamibapa ‘A’ vs Kanbis ‘A’

GROUP A PLATE Nairobi Nookers vs Nairobi Gymkhana

GROUP B MAIN Goan Institute ‘A’ vs Winners of Stray Lions ‘B’ and Aga Khan(this game to be played on 6^th.Dec)

GROUP B PLATE Goan Institute ‘B’ vs Parklands.

Stray Lions to disband?

I hope that this is just a rumour and not reality.

Stray Lions' boss is reported to have disbanded the club after the A side's loss to Kanbis in the 40-over semis.

If it is true, it will be a huge blow to Kenyan cricket as this is a side that have built themselves up from nowhere to become a real force in the domestic game. The a side finished 3rd in the League and are on course to challenge for the title over the next couple of years. the B side continue to climb the leagues and provide depth to the squad.

'A team' captain Jimmy Kamande expressed the following sentiments regarding the news

"Thanks to you boss for giving us an opportunity to play this lovely game. I really feel honoured to have lead this team, for my former team mates, I can't do much but thank you for the support in each and every way. Good luck to us all in our cricket."

Fingers crossed this is just a rumour or knee jerk reaction to a bad day at the office and we will see this side continue to go from strength to strength in the future. The fate of much more than just a handful of players depend on it.