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Nomads edge out the Aces

Northern Nomads took the Sahara Elite League One-Day League title on net run rate after finishing level on points with Eastern Aces, reversing the finishing order in the Twenty20 competition

Cricinfo staff
16-Mar-2008
Northern Nomads took the Sahara Elite League One-Day League title on net run rate after finishing level on points with Eastern Aces, reversing the finishing order in the Twenty20 competition.
The day started with all four teams level on points, although the Nomads and Western Chiefs had the edge on run rate, with the Nomads having the advantage of playing the Southern Stars, who had managed one win in five coming into this last round.
Thomas Odoyo ripped through the Stars' top order, taking 4 for 10 in five overs to reduce them to 30 for 4. Although Nehemiah Odhiambo held up his end with 24, the remainder of the middle order offered little as Josephat Ababu chipped in with 3 for 16 in eight overs. The tail twitched rather than wagged to see them to 101. The Nomads made a solid start before themselves losing their way, sliding from 27 for 0 to 72 for 6 as Rajesh Bhudia got among them. Hiren Varaiya turned the screw, conceding eight runs in his seven overs, but they were defending too little and Odoyo (16*) and Ababu (19*) saw their team home.
The other game was reduced to 20-overs-a-side which played into the Nomads hands as it made it hard for either the Chiefs or the Aces to significantly improve their run rates. Steve Tikolo chose to bat on a wet wicket but the Aces never really got going and only a 33-ball 30 from Amit Bhudia got them to three figures. The Chiefs lost early wickets but when David Maina and Tony Suji were at the crease they looked to be in control. Both fell and although Peter Ongondo batted with assurance to make a 31-ball 36 his team-mates threw the win away with some poor shots and desperate running. He was the last man out with 11 needed off nine balls.
Team Mat Won LostTied N/R Pts Net RR For Against
Northern Nomads 3 2 1 00 8 +0.723 379/108.0 418/150.0
Eastern Aces 3 2 1 0 08 +0.008 345/130.3 336/127.3
Western Chiefs 3 1 2 0 0 4+0.167 542/150.0 517/150.0
Southern Stars 31 2 0 0 4 -1.079480/150.0 475/111.0