Zim crush Kenya

crushing 161-run victory over Kenya, in their swansong 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup tie at Eden Gardens yesterday, to put a glossy closing chapter to a campaign that didn’t entirely go to plan.
A World Cup, in which they came short in their challenge to the established nations, could certainly have turned into a horror show if they had slumped to defeat against a Kenyan side that, save for its courageous batting display against Australia, had looked out of depth at this tournament.
But the Zimbabweans avoided that banana skin, and the tones of criticism that would inevitably have followed such a defeat, and turned the screws with a strong batting performance, as they made 308-6, and a good show with the ball in which they bowled out Kenya for 147 with 84 balls to spare.
Shem Ngoche was the last wicket to fall, his attempt to fire Graeme Cremer over deep mid wicket, only finding Chris Mpofu who completed the catch to give Zimbabwe a victory their superiority and, crucially, their all-round efforts deserved.
Half centuries from the consistent Craig Ervine (66), who was named man-of-the-match, Vusi Sibanda (61) and the reliable Tatenda Taibu (53) powered Zimbabwe, who won the toss and elected to bat, past the 300-run mark for only the first, and unfortunately the last, time at this World Cup.
Seamer Mpofu got the breakthrough, in what was always going to be a tough run chase for the Kenyans, when he trapped David Obuya for a duck and when dangerman Collins Obuya went shortly afterwards, run out for just one, the Kenyans never recovered and Zimbabwe coasted to their 25th win in 32 ODI matches against the East Africans.
There were two wickets each for Ray Price, Greg Lamb and leg-spinner Crèmer while Prosper Utseya and Mpofu got one each.
Nehemiah Odhiambo was the only one to offer real resistance and was left stranded on 44 at the end.
“I’m very happy that the guys played well, especially with the bat, which is what we have been asking for throughout the tournament,” said Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura.
Kenya veteran Steve Tikolo, made his team’s captain in honour of his farewell international game for his nation, was given a touching send-off by the Zimbabwean fielders when he was dismissed, for the last time in the colours of his country, for 10 after being trapped by Price.
Tikolo called for a review but television replays clearly showed that the ball was going onto his leg stump and, since most of the ball was on target and with the initial decision from the umpire being out, he had to walk.
The crowd immediately realised what was happening, as the Zimbabweans saluted him, and soon Eden Gardens cheered the veteran who responded by raising his bat.
“We are disappointed because this is our last game in the tournament and we wanted to put on a good performance,” said Tikolo.
“We didn’t do that well on the field and the young guys have to take the positives and the negatives and move forward.”
After Chigumbura had again won a crucial toss, Zimbabwe did not hesitate to bat and, although the Kenyan bowlers enjoyed some success with the new ball with Regis Chakabva falling early for nine and Taylor being taken at mid-on for 26, Taibu and Sibanda repaired the innings with a 110-run partnership for the third wicket. Playing with both caution and assurance, Sibanda worked his way to his half century, justifying the decision to call him after injuries ravaged the original squad, reaching his 50 from 54 balls in which he hit five fours and a six.
The six brought his fifty but, after reaching 61, he fell after a horrible mix-up with Taibu, which left him stranded on the other end, and he was run out to end an innings in which, as he grew in confidence, had appeared well set for his century.
Moments later umpire Asoka da Silva also gave Taibu out, to a ball that crashed into him but that was clearly missing leg stump, and the diminutive batsman/wicket-keeper called for a review. Not for the first time in this tournament, the Sri Lankan umpire had got it wrong and Taibu survived to complete his half century, punching the ball with authority to third man for the four that brought his fifty, to take his ODI tally to 3001 runs.
Taibu was on 54 when he was trapped by Ngoche, as an attempted reverse sweep went terribly wrong, and again he asked for a review but there was no reprieve this time and he was gone.Ervine has been Zimbabwe’s best batsman at this World Cup and once he was set, there was no stopping him and, having been joined by skipper Chigumbura, they went about their business with both control and purpose.
There was a scare for the skipper when he was dropped off Tikolo, before he had scored, after offering a leading edge but he made good use of the life and he was the fifth Zimbabwe wicket to fall, after he had scored 38, as his men tried to push the target,Ervine was going well, the way he has done all tournament, and was on 66 when he was bowled by Elijah Otieno as he attempted another big hit but he had clearly made his mark and his huge six, hit while he was on one knee, which flew over mid-wicket, was probably the shot of the innings.
There were good contributions from Lamb, unbeaten on 17, and Utseya on 19, and Zimbabwe had done a good job for their big score.
The Kenyans never got going, from the moment David Obuya fell in the first over, and when Collins Obuya, who scored 98 against the Aussies, was soon run out for a duck, they were on the backfoot.
The Zimbabweans combined their good bowling spells with some fine fielding and Chigumbura’s direct throw, from the covers to run out Otieno for five, showed their brilliance in the field.
Scoreboard
Zimbabwe innings
B. Taylor c Ngoche b Otieno 26
R. Chakabva c D Obuya b Odhiambo 9
T. Taibu lbw b Ngoche 53
V. Sibanda run out (C Obuya) 61
C. Ervine b Otieno 66
E. Chigumbura c Mishra b Ongondo 38
Greg Lamb not out 17
P. Utseya not out 19
Extras (b 2, lb 3, w 14) 19
Total (for six wickets in 50 overs) 308
Fall of wickets:
1-32 (Chakabva, 8.6 overs), 2-36 (Taylor, 9.4), 3-146 (Sibanda, 29.1), 4-165 (Taibu, 32.4), 5-270 (Chigumbura, 46.6), 6-276 (Ervine, 47.6).
Bowling:
Ongondo 10 0 53-1,
Otieno 10 0 61-2,
Odhiambo 10 1 58-1,
Ngoche 10 0 68-1,
Obuya 3 0 14-0,
Tikolo 7 0 49-0.
Kenya innings
A. Obanda lbw b Price 23
D. Obuya lbw b Mpofu 0
C. Obuya run out (Sibanda) 1
S. Tikolo lbw b Price 10
T. Mishra c Cremer b Utseya 4
T. Odoyo lbw b Lamb 14
R. Patel c Chakabva b Lamb 24
N. Odhiambo not out 44
P. Ongondo lbw b Cremer 6
E. Otieno run out (Chigumbura) 5
J. Ngoche c Mpofu b Cremer 9
Extras: (lb 4, w 3) 7
Total: (all out; 36 overs; 150 mins) 147
Fall of wickets
1-3 (DO Obuya, 0.5), 2-10 (CO Obuya, 3.3), 3-27 (Tikolo, 7.3), 4-44 (Mishra, 10.3), 5-44 (Obanda, 11.4), 6-73 (Odoyo, 19.5), 7-95 (Patel, 24.6), 8-101 (Ongondo, 25.2), 9-124 (Otieno, 31.2), 10-147 (Ngoche, 35.6).
Bowling:
Mpofu 6 0 27-1,
Price 7 1 20-2,
Utseya 9 0 47-1,
Lamb 7 0 21-2,
Cremer 7 0-2 8-2.