Legend Odumbe bowls Stray Lions to maiden NPCA crown

Batsman Stray Lions Club's AG Praveen (right) hits ball away from Swamibapa's wicketkeeper Maurice Ouma duringduring NPCA League at Jaffreys Sports Club on Sunday, Oct 9, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Former national cricket team captain Maurice Odumbe grabbed four important wickets to bowl Stray Lions to their first NPCA Super League title.

Odumbe’s brilliant show was a reminder to fans who thronged the Jeffrey’s Oval of his golden old days as he led his side to an eight runs win over Swamibapa. The former national team skipper was a household name in Kenyan cricket but his career took a wrong turn when he was banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2005. Since then he has been to hell and back as he helplessly watched his promising career go down the drain.

Monitoring the happens at Eastleigh High School where Kanbis had eased to a six wickets win over Sikh Union, the Swamis needed to successfully chase 253 runs to delay Stray Lions party and keep the title open. They launched their campaign on a high and they were strongly standing at 87 for 0 in 10 overs. All was going for them until Odumbe came calling.

From the ten overs, Odumbe conceded 28 runs but what left Swamibapa reeling that he ousted all their top four batsmen reducing them to spectators with his spin.

Odumbe broke what was a dangerous start by opener Alex Obanda and Naman Patel by trapping Obanda for an lbw on 47 from 33 balls. When the Swamis thought that they were on course to regaining their footing Odumbe struck once again denting the innings more with another lbw-trapping Naman on 34 runs.

Odumbe had his third wicket in his sixth over when he bowled Rakesh Kahar on 15 with the board on 126 runs. Maurice Ouma remained calm and notched up the chase in 52 runs stand for the fourth wicket with Emmanuel Bundi.

With Swamibapa not willing to go down without a fight even with all their three spinners, Stray Lions turned to Collins Obuya as the fourth spinner and it paid off quickly as he picked two wickets in nine balls.

Obuya broke Ouma-Bundi stand when he trapped Bundi lbw for 20 runs. Nehemiah Odhiambo was the next to fall when he was also trapped for a duck two balls later to leave them on 173 for five.

Odumbe got his fourth wicket when he had Saumil Patel top edging his delivery for a duck. Obuya got the big wicket of Ouma in the 43rd over when he bowled him for 38.

Despite the fall of the top and middle order, Swamibapa still had hope of winning the match but the return of Wilkin Mota into the attack changed the whole angle of the match as he picked all the tail end wickets. With two overs to go, Swamibapa needed 17 to win with Jadavji Bhimji and James Ngoche in the middle.

Stray Lions Captain Hiren Varaiya conceded eight in the second last over leaving them with nine to win off six. Mota bowled Ngoche with the first ball of the match to bring celebration in Stray Lions’ den.Earlier, Obuya had top scored for Stray Lions with 64 from 108 balls.

Referring to Odumbe as a legend Varaiya said that it was through his exploits that they won the title after many years of failed attempts. “Odumbe is a legend and a world class player. His contribution in this match and the entire season has been out of this world. This is an achievement because for many years I have struggled to win any major event without success. Everyone in the team from management to players gave their best to ensure that we win but I must say that he (Odumbe) bowled us to victory.”