Clinical Zimbabwe annihilate Kenya

By Suneer Chowdhary

 

Kenya’s batting has been the bane of their World Cup campaign so far. Their first decent performance with the bat came against Australia but by then, the side had doled out far too many bad ones to ensure not a single win thus far.

By Suneer Chowdhary

 

Kolkata: Mar 20, 2011

 

Kenya’s batting has been the bane of their World Cup campaign so far. Their first decent performance with the bat came against Australia but by then, the side had doled out far too many bad ones to ensure not a single win thus far.

 

309 was going to be a tough cookie to crack for a side struggling in the manner about but the capitulation to 147 all out would have disappointed even the most ardent of their fans.

 

The injured David Obuya lasted just two balls in the innings before being trapped in front of the wicket by Christopher Mpofu. His brother Collins, who has been the one batting star for the Kenyans in the tournament, having got 229 runs at an average of more than 55, scored one before being run-out and Kenya were 10 for two.

 

Steve Tikolo, who had already announced his retirement from international cricket at the end of this game, failed to make it memorable one with the bat – scoring only 10 – and by the time, the half-centurion from the Australian game, Tanmay Mishra departed, Kenya were 44 for four. Alex Obanda had stalled the bowling rather well thus far but Ray Price got him as his second wicket and half the Kenyan side was out for 44.

 

Visions of another Bangladesh-like collapse from the South Africa game had returned to haunt the smattering of spectators at the Eden Gardens. Despite a 24 by Rakep Patel and Nehemiah Odhiambo’s 44, the Kenyans went down in a hurry. Zimbabwe had ended with their second win of the tournament, and by a whopping 161-run margin at that.

 

Zimbabwe had earlier got to 308 in their inning thanks to a consolidated effort from their top-order. Brendan Taylor and Regis Chakabva departed very early in their innings but that did nothing to stem the flow of the runs.

 

Tatenda Taibu was joined by Vusi Sibanda at the other end and were quickly off the blocks. Rather surprisingly, Taibu was slower than Sibanda, who took the bowling on with aplomb. He was also the first to get to his half century, getting there with a six off the captain for the day Steve Tikolo.

 

However, the running between the wickets wasn’t as good as it should have been and the confusion between the two led to Sibanda’s run-out. Taibu soon got to his fifty but was declared out lbw to an attempted reverse sweep.

 

Zimbabwe could have frittered away their score of 165 for four but with another quickfire half-century by Craig Ervine and his stand with Elton Chigumbura got the side going.  

 

Ervine made 66 off 54 balls and the final acceleration was provided by Greg Lamb and Prosper Utseya who ensured that 103 runs came in the last ten overs.

 

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 308 for 6 in 50 overs (Craig Ervine 66, Vusi Sibanda 63; Elijah Otieno 2 or 61, Peter Ongondo 1 for 53) bt Kenya 147 all out in 36 overs (Nehemiah Odhiambo 44*, Rakep Patel 24; Ray Price 2 for 20, Greg Lamb 2 for 21, Graeme Cremer 2 for 28) by 161 runs.

 

Man of the Match: Craig Ervine.

 

(Suneer is a Mumbai-based cricket writer and can be contacted at suneerchowdhary@gmail.com and Tweets here @suneerchowdhary)

 

 

Pictures © Getty Images

 

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