Kenya vs. Zimbabwe 4th ODI !st Innings: Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe have won the toss (that makes it 2-2 for the captains), and elected to bat. A brave decision after the debacle for them on Wednesday. After 5 overs, Duffin and Rinke have made a solid start, and the score is 24 for no loss of wicket. Odoyo has bowled 3 overs for 11 runs, but Luseno has been a little bit loose - 2 overs for 12. No mention has been made of shortening the match, so I'm assuming that it will still be the normal length. Hopefully Kenya can make a breakthrough while the ball is still new, and has not been damaged too much by the outfield.

UPDATE 1:

This is a very different Zimbabwe from the one we say two days ago. Duffin and Rinke now have an unbeaten opening partnership of 65 from only 11 overs - pretty much a run a ball. Luseno has been removed from the attack after his 3rd over went for 12 runs, and was replaced by Ongondo, who has been marginally tighter. Odoyo completed his first 5 over spell without getting a wicket, and conceeded 28 runs. Ababu, brought on to replace him has so far been the tidiest of the four bowling one over for one run. Kenya now desperately need a wicket to slow the run rate, and prevent Zimbabwe building a platform for a large total.

UPDATE 2:

After 15 overs, Zimbabwe continue to pile on the runs. Rinke is now on 36 off 45, and Duffin has moved to 33, from the same number of deliveries. Ababu has continued to be economic with 3 overs for 6 runs. Kenya's other bowlers however are not keeping it as tight as they could be - Tikolo brought himself on to replace Ongondo who was going for five an over, and conceeded 10 off his first. Hopefully things will change soon, otherwise Kenya will find themselves chasing a large total. Zimbabwe are 0-86, a run rate of 5.7 an over.

UPDATE 3:

Finally a breakthrough for Kenya. Duffin was out, and a fitting reward for Josephat Ababu, who has bowled so well thus far. Duffin made 39 before being caught behind to give Ababu his first wicket for the series. His demise brings Masakadze to the crease to join Rinke, who has now reached his second 50 of the tour. Tikolo has also tightened up his bowling only conceeding 8 runs off his last three overs. This is a good fightback by Kenya, but they still need to take more wickets to keep the run rate down. After 22 overs, Zimbabwe are 1-106, with the run rate reduced to 4.8 an over. This is trend Kenya needs to maintain over the remaining overs of the game.

UPDATE 4:

Excellent captaincy by Steve Tikolo. With the new man at the crease, he has brought back his strike bowler, Thomas Odoyo, who has repaid him with the wicket of Masakadze, edged to Kennedy Otieno for 4 from 21. Rink continues to be the danger man with 61 from 67, but Zimbabwe's run rate has dropped to 4.4. They are now on 2-119, with the new man at the crease Taylor, on 1 from 7. This is incidentally now the third time Odoyo has accounted for Masakadze this tour. Useful ammunition for the last game tomorrow. A good recovery from Kenya, but they still need Rinke's wicket, as well as the middle order.

UPDATE 5:

Two important wickets have fallen in the last 8 overs. Rinke was finally run out for 72 off 70 - a really great series from him so far. Then Tony Suji continued his form from last match to dismiss Coventry for 11. At the 35 over mark, Zimbabwe are now 4-165. This is still a good platform for them to launch an attack in the last overs, so Kenya will need to use all of their experience and expertise to avoid this happening. The run rate has edged up slightly since the last update, and if they continue at this rate, they will end up on about 240 odd. Should they accelerate, they may well reach 250. This match looks like being a much harder one for Kenya, and should give us some practice at chasing a total.

This match is also giving Steve Tikolo a chance to rotate his bowlers, and see how they handle this sort of pressure. So far, he seems to be doing fairly well and hopefully someone will step up and provide a few more wickets for the skipper.

UPDATE 6:

This has been a very interesting match so far. After the last update, Taylor and Chigumbura did very well to take the score to 217 before Thomas Odoyo clean bowled Taylor for 40 with the score at 217. Zimbabwe were still looking like setting an imposing target, when their middle order and tail were again torn apart by the Kenyan bowlers. Once again, it has been Peter Ongondo in the thick of it for Kenya. First he removed the vey dangerous Chigumbura for 36 off 25 by bowling him. Next ball, he repeated the achievement to send Mahwire's stumps flying, and Zimbabwe were 7 - 222. Odoyo not to be out done, then had the potentially dangerous Strydom caught for 5, before Ongondo struck to remove Higgins for 1. Zimbabwe are now 9 - 231 after 44 overs. This is the close of the innings as due to the delay, the match has been restricted to 44 overs each.

232 should not be too hard a target for Kenya to reach, but they will have to bat well. The run rate required will be 5.3 an over. It makes for an interesting second innings.