Swamibapa A emerged victorious in a thrilling finale of the Nairobi County Cricket Association (NCCA) T20 League, defeating Sir Ali A by a commanding 10 wickets at the Ruaraka grounds on Monday to retain their T20 crown.
A delighted Swamibapa A captain, Sachin Gill, expressed gratitude for defending the title his team won last season, while also praising their opponents and the high standards of the league.
"After winning all our league games and finishing first on the table, it was disappointing to lose the first qualifier. But we were confident that if we played to our potential, we could beat Sir Ali A in the final," said Gill.
"Our plan was simple – bowl in the right areas, stay disciplined, and keep things tight. The boys executed that perfectly, and we managed to bowl them out for just 87," he added.
Following the finals, NCCA chairman Kanti Rabadia announced unprecedented cash rewards for the teams and individual players.
"This is the first time in history that the Association, despite lacking sponsors, has been able to provide cash incentives to teams and players," said Rabadia.
Swamibapa was awarded Sh50,000 for winning the championship, while Sir Ali A received Sh25,000 for finishing as runners-up in the seven-week, highly competitive T20 league.
Individual awards were also handed out: Irfan Karim claimed the Best Batter award after scoring 430 runs, while Sachin Siyani, a young player from SCLPS A, won the Best Bowler award with 16 wickets.
Dhwanil Patel earned the Best Fielder/Wicketkeeper award, and Faraz Ahmed, who played a key role in Sir Ali’s remarkable run, was named Most Valuable Player. Each of these winners received Sh5,000 from NCCA.
The Man of the Match for the finals was Kenyan veteran Shem Ngoche, who delivered his best performance when it mattered most. Meanwhile, the Young Upcoming Player award went to Paresh Kerai, who bowled consistently well throughout the tournament for Swamibapa.
