Zim vs Ken : Zimbabwe beat Kenya by 161 runs
Zimbabwe completed their group ?A? league fixture on a winning note outplaying Kenya by a huge 161 runs in their last match of the ongoing ICC world cup cricket at Eden gardens here Sunday.
After posting a huge 308 for six wickets in their innings, Zimbabwe made Kenya all out for 147 runs with 14 overs to spare.
Though both the teams were already out of contention before this tie, this victory would definitely boost the morale of Zimbabwe players before they return to Test arena some months later after a five-year self exile.
Zimbabwe thus finished their round robin group legue with two wins and four defeats. They forced their other victory against Canada earlier..
Kenya returned empty handed from this world cup as they lost all their group league matches.
Facing an uphill task of scoring 309 for a victory, Kenya surrendered meekly to not so hostile Zimbabwe bowling.
They lost their wickets at regular interval as none of the players except lower order Odhiambo and to some extent opener Obanda and middle order R Patel could put up any resistance.
While Odhiambo became the highest scorer for Kenya with an unbeaten 44, Obanda and Patel add some substance to their total making 23 and 24 respectively.
For Zimbabwe medium pacer R Price and spinners G A Lamb and A G Cremer earned a couple of wickets each conceding 20, 21 and 28 runs, Mpofu who open Zimbabwe attack along with R Price and P Utseya both collected one wicket each giving away 20 and 47 runs respectively.
Earlier fine stroke play by C Ervine, who has been adjudged man of the match for forcing highest individual score 66 in this match, and V Sibanda (61) guided Zimbabwe to post an imposing 308 in their innings.
Ervine and Sibanda were ably assisted by Tatendu Taibu (53) , E Chingumbura (38) and opener Brendan Taylor (26).
Steve Tikolo who led the Kanyan side today in the absence of their regular captain Jimmy Kamande, who sustained knee injury during practice session Saturday, bade farewell from ODI after this match.
Tikolo, who retired from ODI after this match, said it was a nice experience to be able to play in this World Cup, though they could not earn any point here.
?I am now looking forward to coach the youngsters when back in Zimbabwe,? Tikolo said.
Zimbabwe skipper Chingumbura expressed satisfaction in winning their last match through could not make it to the quarter finals of the Cup.
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