Kenya bounced back yesterday in the 3rd ODI v Zimbabwe to win by 20 runs and keep alive a series that had threatened to become embarrassing. For the first time on the tour, Maurice Ouma won the toss and not surprisingly opted to bat. Kenya were once again in experimental mode with both batting order and line up and this time found some things that worked.
Alex Obanda who had so far looked uncomfortable at 3 in the earlier games this time opened with the in form David Obuya and it proved to be a perfect combination. They got Kenya off to a rollicking start both bringing up their half centuries in an opening stand of 119 before Obuya (56) fell to the medium pace of Masakadza. From a position of domination, Kenya then proceeded to let Zimbabwe back into the game as Tikolo (1) and Obanda (65) both followed shortly after.
with new batsmen at the crease, Kenya now found the going much tougher and though Patel (20) and Ouma (17) both got starts, it looked like Kenya were going to throw away their advantage completely. This feeling was only compounded by the run out of Kamande (5) which left Kenya reeling at 185/6 after 38.4 overs. Considering Kenya had at one stage been 115/0 after 19 overs, Zimbabwe would have been very happy with their comeback.
Just when things were looking their gloomiest for Kenya however enter Thomas Odoyo and Collins Obuya. The pair waited until the 40 over mark and then launched a vicious attack on the Zimbabwe bowling with Odoyo particularly brutal in his 28 off 22 deliveries. He did then come unstuck to a return catch to Ray Price, probably the pick of the Zimbabwean bowling, but he had given the inning enough impetus to allow Collins Obuya to fire through to the end to finish on 52 off 63 deliveries though the last half of those runs came at well over a run a ball. Obuya was run out on the final delivery as he put team ahead of statistics in a bid for one more run. Thanks to the fine efforts at the beginning and end of the Kenyan innings, they finished on 266/9 and would have gone into the break confident of a maiden victory on the tour.
Zimbabwe started their chase in familiar fashion plundering 15 runs of the first 2 overs before Odoyo struck twice to have both Vermeulen (lbw for 6) and Coventry (bowled for 1) back in the pavilion and Kenya right back in the driving seat. Unsurprisingly this did not seem to deter the form player of the tournament so far, Hamilton Masakadza who promptly took 3 boundaries of Odoyo's next over. A double bowling change had the desired effect for Kenya however as Kamande went for 1 in his first over and Nemiah Odhiambo had Masakadza caught by David Obuya for a run-a-ball 44. It was a vital wicket for Kenya and with the required run rate slowly climbing they should have already scented victory.
Again however Zimbabwe contrived to get out of jail with a watchful and responsible partnership between Brendan Taylor (91) and Stuart Matsikenyeri (58). The pair put on 142 for the 4th wicket and though the run rate required continued to inch its way over 6 an over, Zimbabwe still looked as though they had done the Houdini with about 10 overs to go. Just as they were looking comfortable, Hiren Varaiya did what he so often does for Kenya and took 2 quick wickets. Both were bowled and both were the settled batsmen, first Matsikenyeri then in his next over, Taylor. Suddenly it was Kenya back on top and Zimbabwe who had the jitters.
Having done the damage, Varaiya was then pulled from the attack with the remaining six overs shared out between Odoyo and Odhiambo and it was the latter who came up trumps taking 3 more wickets to finish with his first ever 4 wicket haul in ODI cricket. Without Sean Williams, unable to bat due to injury, Zimbabwe lost their final wicket with the penultimate ball of the match but by then the result was academic anyhow. Kenya had held on to a vital and morale boosting win. what was even more satisfying for the visitors was that this win still came with so many of the players not yet playing to their potential. So far this series has seen them improve every match and they will now go into the remaining two games confident that they can not only compete with their hosts but beat them as well.
One final point to ponder: so far in the three ODIs, Kenya have conceded a total of just 20 extras. Zimbabwe have conceded 51. Perhaps already a sign of a tighter ship under the new coach?
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
One that got away
If the first ODI was frustrating for Kenyan fans because Kenya seemed to be totally outplayed from the start, the second was more so because they seemed to contrive to lose a game that should have been won.
Once again Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat with Hamilton Masakadza once again in blistering form. This time however, Kenya's bowlers kept a much tighter reign and even though Masakadza made 66, he was not able either to score at the pace of the first game, now go on to convert it to a big hundred. Perhaps the difference in the team was the inclusion of Hiren Varaiya who came into the side for an unlucky Jimmy Kamande. Quite how the most economical bowler from the first game gets left out when Onyango who made a record for runs conceded was retained bamboozled not a few fans.
Varaiya was certainly the standout for Kenya taking 3/38 off his ten overs, but Tikolo 2/38 off 10 also impressed as did the third spinner used, Rakep Patel - no wickets perhaps, but 4 useful overs that went for just 18. While the spinners took the glory, much work had earlier been done by Peter Ongondo and surprisingly after the first game, Lameck Onyango. Both kept a tight line and prevented the Zimbabweans from scoring freely, no doubt contributing to the steady wickets that fell once the initial partnership had been broken. Nehemiah Odhiambo was more expensive, but still picked up 2 vital wickets and had Kenya not once more allowed an unbeaten 65 run stand between Matsikenyeri (77*) and Cremer (31* off 19), Zimbabwe should have been restricted to under 250. As it was, they still only posted 263 and this should have been a target to have Kenya pressing for a win.
David Obuya certainly made his intentions clear scoring freely at a run a ball and had he recieved better support from those around him both he and the cause would have fared better. Instead the other top order batsmen seemed to find it as hard to score as he found it easy and as a result the pressure built and wickets fell. Obuya in the end came unstuck on 49, but his innings alone deserved mention for trying to keep Kenya in the match.
From Zimbabwe's point of view, it was the spinners who did the damage. Cremer rightfully walked away with man of the match for his 6/46 but it was Utseya who introduced himself first and really began to take the game away from the Kenyans. Perhaps Kenya need to think on reintroducing Kamande for one of the seamers, most likely Otieno for the next game. While on the subject, the express pace of Luseno should also get a chance on this tour otherwise there is little reason for him to travel.
Little more can be said really. This was a game Kenya could and should have won. there is now a day's break before the 3rd game of the series and Kenya will need to regroup fast to avoid going 3-0 down. There is no doubt that the talent is there in this side to upset Zimbabwe. Individual performances have promised that but then foundered due to lack of support and perhaps self belief. Kenya must learn to go for the kill when there is a sniff of victory and they must learn to believe in themselves and the prospect of victory.
Once again Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat with Hamilton Masakadza once again in blistering form. This time however, Kenya's bowlers kept a much tighter reign and even though Masakadza made 66, he was not able either to score at the pace of the first game, now go on to convert it to a big hundred. Perhaps the difference in the team was the inclusion of Hiren Varaiya who came into the side for an unlucky Jimmy Kamande. Quite how the most economical bowler from the first game gets left out when Onyango who made a record for runs conceded was retained bamboozled not a few fans.
Varaiya was certainly the standout for Kenya taking 3/38 off his ten overs, but Tikolo 2/38 off 10 also impressed as did the third spinner used, Rakep Patel - no wickets perhaps, but 4 useful overs that went for just 18. While the spinners took the glory, much work had earlier been done by Peter Ongondo and surprisingly after the first game, Lameck Onyango. Both kept a tight line and prevented the Zimbabweans from scoring freely, no doubt contributing to the steady wickets that fell once the initial partnership had been broken. Nehemiah Odhiambo was more expensive, but still picked up 2 vital wickets and had Kenya not once more allowed an unbeaten 65 run stand between Matsikenyeri (77*) and Cremer (31* off 19), Zimbabwe should have been restricted to under 250. As it was, they still only posted 263 and this should have been a target to have Kenya pressing for a win.
David Obuya certainly made his intentions clear scoring freely at a run a ball and had he recieved better support from those around him both he and the cause would have fared better. Instead the other top order batsmen seemed to find it as hard to score as he found it easy and as a result the pressure built and wickets fell. Obuya in the end came unstuck on 49, but his innings alone deserved mention for trying to keep Kenya in the match.
From Zimbabwe's point of view, it was the spinners who did the damage. Cremer rightfully walked away with man of the match for his 6/46 but it was Utseya who introduced himself first and really began to take the game away from the Kenyans. Perhaps Kenya need to think on reintroducing Kamande for one of the seamers, most likely Otieno for the next game. While on the subject, the express pace of Luseno should also get a chance on this tour otherwise there is little reason for him to travel.
Little more can be said really. This was a game Kenya could and should have won. there is now a day's break before the 3rd game of the series and Kenya will need to regroup fast to avoid going 3-0 down. There is no doubt that the talent is there in this side to upset Zimbabwe. Individual performances have promised that but then foundered due to lack of support and perhaps self belief. Kenya must learn to go for the kill when there is a sniff of victory and they must learn to believe in themselves and the prospect of victory.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Outplayed
It is hard to find another word to describe Kenya's performance against Zimbabwe in the first ODI played yesterday at Harare Sports Club. Kenya started the day with several changes to the team that lost to Zimbabwe A in the Intercontinental Cup, but the inclusion of Peter Ongondo aside these did not have the desired effect.
Players to miss out were Thomas Odoyo, Rageb Aga and Hiren Varaiya with their places taken by Elijah Otieno, Lameck Onyango and Ongondo. With Zimbabwe winning the toss and opting to bat, it was these three who needed to step up and show why they deserved their places over those they replaced. As Hamilton Masakadza ran amok on his way to a career best 156, it was only Ongondo who conceded less than a run a ball, yet he only bowled 7 overs compared to Lameck Onyango who set a new Kenyan record for the most runs conceded in an ODI with 91 plundered off his 10. Ongondo is the most experienced seamer we had to offer and the way he was bowling should have seen him have maximum overs.
Elijah Otieno also suffered at the hands of the Zimbabwean attack conceding at just over 8 runs an over as the hosts motored to 313/4 in their 50 overs. His inclusion in the side is however understandable as he is one of the prospects of the future and needs the exposure. Onyango however has now surely done his dash and must make room for the likes of Luseno on this tour and Darshit Shah or one of the other fringe players on future tours.
Kenya's spinners fared better with Kamande especially managing to put the lid on in the middle overs and he was rewarded with one of only 3 wickets to come off the ball, the other being a run-out. Kamande finished with figures of 9-0-37-1 and again should have bowled his maximum allotted. Tikolo was not at his best conceding 52 runs off 8 overs and without Varaiya as the third spin option, Kenya looked a bowler short. Strange then that Collins Obuya did not at least get an over or two - he could hardly have fared worse than Onyango.
I have left the best of Kenya's bowlers to last. Nehemiah Odhiambo was far and away the best bowler for Kenya taking 2/45 off his 10 overs and continues to press his case as the new first-pick all rounder for Kenya. Again perhaps a mistake was made introducing him as the fourth seam option rather than earlier. His improvement is perhaps the best support for Otieno's continued inclusion in sides as Odhiambo too used to find the going rough against the better batsmen. Credit to the player on how he has improved and long may that improvement continue.
Having been set 314 to win, Kenya's openers started well with the first 5 overs seeing the team on track in terms of keeping up with run rate. The familiar story of regular wickets then came into play as no fewer than 8 of the Kenyan order got into double figures and then got out. Rakep Patel (24) did finally improve on his single figure personal best in ODIs but he is still yet to produce the runs we know he is capable of. Again a player that needs the continued exposure and who will I'm sure deliver in time.
Tikolo, as always played well for his 49 and had he been given better support perhaps he would have gone on to score more. For the rest of the line up it was a disappointing day in the office as partnerships kept getting going that looked like they would bring Kenya into the match only for the batsmen to fall once they had got set. It is a malaise that has plagued the Kenyan game for a while now and must be high on the new coach's agenda to eliminate. We must learn to turn starts into 50s and centuries or we will not compete at this level, something that is no longer an option with the increasing standards of our fellow Associates and the tougher expectations of the Test sides.
There has always been a cry that Kenya needs more games to improve. On the counter side is the fact that unless we are competitive in all and victorious in at least some these games, there is little incentive for the top sides to play us. There is little time between games on this tour for Kenya to improve, but improve they must if the ship is going to continue to righten. Of one thing there is no doubt; Eldine Baptiste will be hard at work earning his keep before the month is out. Here's hoping for a better Kenyan performance in game two today.
Players to miss out were Thomas Odoyo, Rageb Aga and Hiren Varaiya with their places taken by Elijah Otieno, Lameck Onyango and Ongondo. With Zimbabwe winning the toss and opting to bat, it was these three who needed to step up and show why they deserved their places over those they replaced. As Hamilton Masakadza ran amok on his way to a career best 156, it was only Ongondo who conceded less than a run a ball, yet he only bowled 7 overs compared to Lameck Onyango who set a new Kenyan record for the most runs conceded in an ODI with 91 plundered off his 10. Ongondo is the most experienced seamer we had to offer and the way he was bowling should have seen him have maximum overs.
Elijah Otieno also suffered at the hands of the Zimbabwean attack conceding at just over 8 runs an over as the hosts motored to 313/4 in their 50 overs. His inclusion in the side is however understandable as he is one of the prospects of the future and needs the exposure. Onyango however has now surely done his dash and must make room for the likes of Luseno on this tour and Darshit Shah or one of the other fringe players on future tours.
Kenya's spinners fared better with Kamande especially managing to put the lid on in the middle overs and he was rewarded with one of only 3 wickets to come off the ball, the other being a run-out. Kamande finished with figures of 9-0-37-1 and again should have bowled his maximum allotted. Tikolo was not at his best conceding 52 runs off 8 overs and without Varaiya as the third spin option, Kenya looked a bowler short. Strange then that Collins Obuya did not at least get an over or two - he could hardly have fared worse than Onyango.
I have left the best of Kenya's bowlers to last. Nehemiah Odhiambo was far and away the best bowler for Kenya taking 2/45 off his 10 overs and continues to press his case as the new first-pick all rounder for Kenya. Again perhaps a mistake was made introducing him as the fourth seam option rather than earlier. His improvement is perhaps the best support for Otieno's continued inclusion in sides as Odhiambo too used to find the going rough against the better batsmen. Credit to the player on how he has improved and long may that improvement continue.
Having been set 314 to win, Kenya's openers started well with the first 5 overs seeing the team on track in terms of keeping up with run rate. The familiar story of regular wickets then came into play as no fewer than 8 of the Kenyan order got into double figures and then got out. Rakep Patel (24) did finally improve on his single figure personal best in ODIs but he is still yet to produce the runs we know he is capable of. Again a player that needs the continued exposure and who will I'm sure deliver in time.
Tikolo, as always played well for his 49 and had he been given better support perhaps he would have gone on to score more. For the rest of the line up it was a disappointing day in the office as partnerships kept getting going that looked like they would bring Kenya into the match only for the batsmen to fall once they had got set. It is a malaise that has plagued the Kenyan game for a while now and must be high on the new coach's agenda to eliminate. We must learn to turn starts into 50s and centuries or we will not compete at this level, something that is no longer an option with the increasing standards of our fellow Associates and the tougher expectations of the Test sides.
There has always been a cry that Kenya needs more games to improve. On the counter side is the fact that unless we are competitive in all and victorious in at least some these games, there is little incentive for the top sides to play us. There is little time between games on this tour for Kenya to improve, but improve they must if the ship is going to continue to righten. Of one thing there is no doubt; Eldine Baptiste will be hard at work earning his keep before the month is out. Here's hoping for a better Kenyan performance in game two today.
Monday, October 12, 2009
NPCA Tables after Round 2, Week 5
| POINTS TABLE - LEAGUE 2009 - 50 OVERS. | | | | | | |||
| 11.10.09 | | | | | | | | |
| SUPER | | | | | | | | |
| TEAM | PLAYED | WIN(WON) | DRAW | BAT | BOWL | BONUS | PENALTY | TOTAL |
| Swamibapa 'A' | 11 | 108(9) | 6 | 20 | 37 | 4 | -1 | 174 |
| Kanbis 'A' | 11 | 96(8) | 0 | 22 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 160 |
| Telca | 11 | 96(8) | 0 | 12 | 38 | 10 | 0 | 156 |
| Stray Lions 'A' | 10 | 96(8) | 0 | 15 | 35 | 8 | -2 | 152 |
| Kanbis 'B' | 11 | 48(4) | 0 | 12 | 36 | 6 | 0 | 102 |
| SCLYL 'A' | 11 | 24(2) | 0 | 12 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 68 |
| Simba Union A | 11 | 12(1) | 0 | 8 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 53 |
| Sir Ali 'A' | 10 | 24(2) | 6 | 13 | 11 | 0 | -8 | 46 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| DIV I | PLAYED | WIN(WON) | DRAW | BAT | BOWL | BONUS | PENALTY | TOTAL |
| Nbi,Nookers 'A' | 11 | 120(10) | 0 | 16 | 37 | 10 | -1 | 182 |
| Swamibapa 'B' | 11 | 108(9) | 0 | 23 | 41 | 4 | -1 | 175 |
| Premier | 10 | 72(6) | 0 | 15 | 34 | 6 | -1 | 126 |
| Kongonis Dev | 11 | 60(5) | 6 | 16 | 33 | 0 | -3 | 112 |
| Ruaraka 'A' | 11 | 60(5) | 0 | 14 | 27 | 10 | -1 | 110 |
| Ngara | 11 | 48(4) | 0 | 3 | 34 | 8 | -5 | 88 |
| Nbi.Jafferys | 10 | 24(2) | 6 | 5 | 21 | 2 | -3 | 55 |
| Nbi.Gymkhana | 11 | 12(1) | 0 | 10 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 53 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| DIV II | PLAYED | WIN(WON) | DRAW | BAT | BOWL | BONUS | PENALTY | TOTAL |
| Stray Lions 'B' | 10 | 120(10) | 0 | 8 | 40 | 14 | 0 | 182 |
| Golden XI | 11 | 96(8) | 0 | 12 | 32 | 12 | 0 | 152 |
| Goan Inst 'A' | 11 | 72(6) | 6 | 21 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 134 |
| Aga Khan | 10 | 72(6) | 6 | 13 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 119 |
| SCLYL 'B' | 10 | 48(4) | 0 | 12 | 29 | 8 | 0 | 97 |
| Sir Ali 'B' | 10 | 60(5) | 0 | 9 | 25 | 10 | -8 | 95 |
| Simba Union B | 10 | 12(1) | 0 | 7 | 22 | 8 | -7 | 42 |
| Qutbis | 10 | 12(1) | 0 | 10 | 15 | 0 | -2 | 35 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| DIV III | PLAYED | WIN(WON) | DRAW | BAT | BOWL | BONUS | PENALTY | TOTAL |
| Parklands | 10 | 108(9) | 0 | 14 | 40 | 6 | -4 | 164 |
| Aaryans | 10 | 84(7) | 0 | 20 | 30 | 10 | -1 | 143 |
| Ruaraka 'B' | 10 | 60(5) | 0 | 3 | 25 | 12 | -1 | 99 |
| Oshwal XI | 10 | 48(4) | 0 | 4 | 33 | 8 | 0 | 93 |
| Nbi Nookers 'B' | 10 | 48(4) | 0 | 6 | 33 | 4 | -1 | 90 |
| Goan Inst 'B' | 9 | 48(4) | 0 | 5 | 21 | 15 | -1 | 88 |
| Women XI | 9 | 12(1) | 0 | 1 | 22 | 2 | -1 | 36 |
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