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Zimbabwe Wrap Up 151-Run Win To Go 2-0 Up

Thursday 29 January 2009

Zimbabwe Wrap Up 151-Run To Go 2-0 Up In Kenya

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

Zimbabwe 351-7 (Matsikenyeri 90, Chigumbura 68, Waller 63) beat
Kenya 200 (Tikolo 56, Dabengwa 2-21, Cremer 2-40) by 151 runs

2nd One Day International, Mombasa

Half-centuries from Stuart Matsikenyeri, Max Waller and Elton Chigumbura ensured Zimbabwe went 2-0 up in their ODI series against Kenya with a crushnig 151-run win in Mombasa.

Their efforts got Zimbabwe to 351 for seven - a score that was their highest in ODIs, beating their previous record of 340 which they registered agaisnt Namibia in 2003 before Kenya were bowled out for 200.

Matsikenyeri hammered 90 in 95 balls, Chigumbura an unbeaten 68 in 29 deliveries and Waller reached a half-century for the first time with 63 in 54 balls as Kenya conceded more than 300 for the second match in a row and 14th in their history.

Chigumbura's blast of ten fours and three sixes against saw the Zimbabwean batsmen run riot in the final overs, with 90 coming in the final seven.

Matsikenyeri hit eight fours and a six after Hamilton Masakadza (23) and Vusi Sibanda (41) had given the away side another solid start and although Keith Dabengwa departed for 25, Matsikenyeri and Waller added 105 for the fourth wicket before Matsikenyeri was trapped in front by Collins Obuya.

Waller made it to his maiden half-century, easing past his previous best effort of just 24, stroking eight fours before Chigumbura's fireworks saw him dominate a 20-ball seventh-wicket partnership of 50 with Prosper Utseya, who contributed five not out.

Collins Obuya did pick up a couple of wickets but none of the bowlers were able to contain Zimbabwe's big-hitting batsmen for any length of time.

Kenya lost two wickets inside four overs when Seren Waters (0) was bowled by Tawanda Mupariwa and Alex Obanda (2) was caught and bowled by Chigumbura.

Home captain Steve Tikolo launched a counter-attack, hitting 56 in 48 balls and he was well supported by Kennedy Otieno, who hit 37 and the pair added 87 for the third wicket before both were undone by spin. Otieno was trapped in front by Ray Price while Tikolo was caught by Matsikenyeri off of Utseya.

Thereafter, none of the other batsmen were in with a chance of keeping up with the required run rate and although there were contributions of 29 from Maurice Ouma and 21 from Obuya, it was too little, too late as Zimbabwe shared the wickets around with spinners Cremer and Dabengwa picking up two apiece.

There was a wicket apiece for Mupariwa, Chigumbura, Price and Utseya while Price effected the run out of Jimmy Kamande, scorer of a half-century in the opening match.

Thomas Odoyo was unable to bat after picking up an injury in the field that saw him complete just two overs.

Zimbabwe won that game earlier in the week by 108 runs.