Zimbabwe Stroll To Victory

I wish that I didn't have to report on this, that I could hide my head in the sand, and it would all go away, but were comprehensively thumped to the tune of 8 wickets by Zimbabwe yesterday. Kenya won the toss, but that was about as good as it got for us. There were some bright points with the bat. Both Kennedy Otieno and Thomas Odoyo scored half centuries. Kennedy at a strike rate of 66%, Odoyo, quicker at a run a ball. Other than that, it was a desultory batting effort. Tony Suji did get a start, but 25 off 54 shows why he should not be batting at three. Steve Tikolo looked like he could dominate, then fell to Utseya for 23 off 26. Kamande made a brief cameo at the end of the innings, but it was too little too late, and Kenya limped to 227. Kenya's other batsmen failed entirely.
In reply, Zimbabwe never really looked in any doubt. From the first over, Rinke went after the bowlers, and even when he perished to Ongondo for 42, things didn't improve. It is worrying for Kenya that Zimbabwe strolled to the target with 7 overs still left to play, and only one wicket falling to a bowler (the other was Duffin, run out by a Nehemiah Ngoche direct hit). This is definitely something that Kenya need to address today if they are going to have a chance of levelling this series, or even competing against other teams at this level.

While the performance on the pitch left something to be desired, the team selection was mind boggling. Tony Suji is an ok batsman down the order, but he is not good enough to come in at three. Why was he used here, and not Mishra, who is in the team as a batsman, and familiar with batting up the order? That said, Mishra was run out for only 4, but I am a little more prepared to forgive those on debut.
Elsewhere I have defended Brijal Patel's inclusion in the side, but he has to perform to his potential or give way to someone who can. Next match, I would like to see him replaced by his younger namesake, Kalpesh Patel. To have Kamande and Brijal in the same starting line up was to me a strange decision. Likewise Ababu and Ongondo. While the latter was probably the pick of the bowling - he was the only one to take a wicket, and was one of the few who went for less than 5 an over, Ababu was expensive, and failed to get a wicket. For him to justify his place in the side, he needs to be taking wickets, and keeping the run rate down. I was surprised to see him start in place of Alfred Luseno who has been touted as a genuine strike bowler. If anything is clear from this game it is that we need someone who can knock the batsmen over. We will only win matches if we can take wickets.

Having had that little rant, all is not lost. It is a 5 match series, and we can recover. There were some good signs for Kenya with the bat. Otieno and Odoyo need to keep up their form, and Steve Tikolo needs to dominate, as we know he can. Bouncing back today will be hard - Kenya were tired yesterday after all the travel, but it is possible, and can be done. Players need to play to their potential, and the youngsters, especially Luseno, need to be given their chance.

Hopefully the team will be reshuffled to something like this:
1. Kennedy Otieno Obuya. 2. Maurice Ouma. 3. Tanmay Mishra. 4. Steve Tikolo. 5. Thomas Odoyo. 6. David Obuya. 7. Kalpesh Patel. 8. Jimmy Kamande. 9. Peter Ongondo. 10. Nehemiah Ngoche. 11. Alfred Luseno.

Full Scorecard (Cricinfo)