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Zimbabwe Prove Too Strong For Kenya In Opener

Tuesday 27 January 2009

©REUTERS/Andrew Biraj (BANGLADESH) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Zimbabwe 305-7 (Chigumbura 79, Sibanda 79) beat
Kenya 197 (Kamande 74, Rainsford 2-19) by 108 runs

1st One Day International, Mombasa

Zimbabwe overcame Kenya to win the first One Day International between the two sides in Mombasa by 108 runs after Kenya were bowled out for for 197 in pursuit of 306 to win.

A scintillating innings of 79 from 39 balls by Elton Chigumbura helped Zimbabwe overcome a steady start to post 305 for seven and the all-rounder then picked up two quick wickets to leave Kenya in trouble, and they never recovered, bowled out in the 47th over.

Chigumbura hammered seven sixes and three fours to help Zimbabwe add 76 runs in the last five overs of their innings after they had won the toss and chose to bat.

Openers Hamilton Masakadza (69) and Vusi Sibanda (79) added 111 for the first wicket in 21.1 overs before Kenya hit back to remove Stuart Matsikenyeri (6), Sean Williams (11), wicket-keeper Forster Mutizwa (20) cheaply to leave the match on an even keel.

However, Chigumbura was not to be denied and his clean hitting saw few of the eight bowlers used by Kenya escaping unscathed, with two overs from Collins Obuya disappearing for 18 although captain Steve Tikolo led by example once again with his off-spin returning two for 33 in ten overs.

Jimmy Kamande also picked up two wickets.

Masakadza thumped 11 fours and a maximum in his 61-ball innings while Sibanda anchored the innings with 79 in 129 balls, hitting eight fours and a six. Chigumbura was finally dismissed with five balls of the innings remaining when he was caught by Seren Waters off of Lameck Onyango.

Chigumbura, opening the bowling for Zimbabwe, was straight back into the action when he dismissed Maurice Ouma for three and Alex Obanda for six to leave Kenya tottering at 16 for two.

Waters (32) and Tikolo (37) made useful contributions, helping Kenya steady their innings but once they departed to slow bowlers Ray Price and Graeme Cremer respectively, Zimbabwe had little trouble in restricting the flow of runs and struck reglularly with wickets.

Kamande played fluently for 76 in 86 balls while Hiren Varaiya scored a One Day best of 34 before the end of the innings came when Peter Ongondo was bowled by Price with 22 balls to spare.

Chigumbura, Ed Rainsford, Price and Cremer all picked up a wicket apiece while Prosper Utseya and Keith Dabengwa grabbed one each.

The second match takes place on January 29th.

© Cricket World 2009