Varaiya And Odhiambo Bowl Kenya To 20-Run Win

Varaiya And Odhiambo Bowl Kenya To 20-Run Win

Kenya finally had plenty to celebrate after their first win over Zimbabwe of the tour.

©REUTERS/Rogan Ward (SOUTH AFRICA). Picture supplied by Action Images

Kenya 266-9 (Obanda 65, D Obuya 56) beat
Zimbabwe 246 (Taylor 92, Odhiambo 4-61) by 20 runs
Third One-Day International, Harare

Kenya took a 20-run win over Zimbabwe in the third One-Day International to pull a game back and head into the final two matches only one match behind their hosts, this keeping the series alive.

Substantial innings from Alex Obanda, David Obuya, and Collins Obuya propelled Kenya to a score of 266 for nine and despite half-centuries from Brendan Taylor and Stuart Matsikenyeri, Zimbabwe fell short, bowled out for 246.

Obanda, who made 65, and David Obuya, who made 56, put on 119 for the first wicket after Kenya won the toss and chose to bat first, but Zimbabwe hit back with Kyle Jarvis, Ray Price and Hamilton Masakadza picking up two wickets and the run outs of Maurice Ouma (20) and Jimmy Kamande (5) didn't help Kenya's cause.

However, Collins Obuya made 52 in 63 balls with three fours and two sixes to haul Kenya up to a competitive score, aided by 28 in 22 balls from Thomas Odoyo.

Zimbabwe then lost two quick wickets in reply, Odoyo trapping Mark Vermeulen in front for six and bowling Charles Coventry for one but Masakadza's 44 in 42 balls limited the damage before he was out, caught by David Obuya off of Nehemiah Odhiambo.

It fell to Taylor (92) and Matsikenyeri (58) to get their side back on track and they added 142 for the fourth wicket but both fell within three runs of each other, both men bowled by Hiren Varaiya.

Batting a man light, missing Sean Williams, the lower order was unable to cope as the run rate escalated, Odhiambo finishing with figures of four for 61 as he saw off Elton Chigumbura (21), Prosper Utseya (4) and Ray Price (0) to prevent Zimbabwe sealing the series at the earliest opportunity.

Varaiya's seven overs returned two for 40 while Odoyo claimed two for 54 in nine overs.

Zimbabwe led the five-match series 2-0 after 91 and 86-run victories in the opening two games.

© Cricket World 2009

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