Zimbabwe Crush Kenya Once More

Sport
ZIMBABWE smashed Kenya by 151 runs in Mombasa yesterday, their second crushing win over the hosts in two days following a 109-run victory in the first ODI on Tuesday.

ZIMBABWE smashed Kenya by 151 runs in Mombasa yesterday, their second crushing win over the hosts in two days following a 109-run victory in the first ODI on Tuesday.

The visitors, who chose to bat after winning the toss, piled up their record one-day total in another dominant batting display as they powered to 351 for 7.

Stuart Matsikenyeri scored his career-best 90 and found strong support from Malcolm Waller, the son of former Zimbabwe international Andy Waller, who hit his maiden ODI half-century.

But for the second game running it was Elton Chigumbura who provided the real fireworks with a 29-ball 68.

It was the first time Zimbabwe had passed 300 in consecutive ODIs and they went beyond their previous best team effort of 340 for two, set against Namibia in the 2003 World Cup.

Chigumbura’s late assault, in which he found the boundary at will against an attack that had lost all confidence, made the difference between a handsome total and a record one.

He reached 50 off 22 balls, the second fastest by a Zimbabwean behind Doug Marillier, taking a combined 46 off the 48th and 49th overs bowled by Peter Ongondo and Nehemiah Odhiambo. Chigumbura finally fell off the penultimate ball of the innings.

Matsikenyeri and Waller added 105 in 13 overs in a fourth-wicket stand to give the innings a crucial push.

Waller reached his 50 off 46 balls, as the Kenya attack once again struggled to stem the tide.

Zimbabwe’s innings began swiftly with Hamilton Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda as the pair opened with 44 in eight overs. Odhiambo boosted Kenya by trapping Masakadza with a delivery that struck him around ankle height, but the visitors steadily built a solid platform.

Sibanda and Keith Dabengwa (25) were both dismissed after useful efforts alongside Matsikenyeri before he and Waller took control. Matsikenyeri was in sight of a maiden one-day century when he fell sweeping at Collins Obuya. Waller went three overs later, clubbing down to long-on, but the lower-order had been given a license to hit out.

In reply, Kenya needed to bat extremely well in the top order to avoid another embarrassing defeat. And in captain Steve Tikolo they always have a reliable saviour. He was again in a defiant mood as he manfully tried to guide his charges towards a respectable score.

He found a willing partner in Kennedy Otieno, retuning to the Kenya team for another spell following the expiry of his ban from all forms of cricket. The two veterans scored smartly against the seamers. Their comfort ended when the spinners were introduced and quickly tightened the screws.

Prosper Utseya had Tikolo caught by Matsikenyeri on 56, while Ray Price bowled Otieno (37). They again struggled with spin, overall, as both Graeme Cremer and Keith Dabengwa ended with two wickets each. – cricinfo/Staff writer.