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?
Showing posts with label David Obuya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David Obuya. Show all posts
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.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Maurice Ouma is Kenya's new Captain
Cricket Kenya have today released the squad to travel to Ireland along with the new appointments for Captain and Vice Captain. In a move that was guessed at by only 2% of the readership of this blog, Kenya's new Captain will be Maurice Ouma (Right) with Jimmy Kamande acting as Vice Captain. It is a bold decision by Kenya's selectors and is certainly made with an eye on the future as both players are likely to be around for a long time yet.
There is only one change to the rest of the 15 man squad with Rajesh Bhudia making way for the in-form David Obuya to return to national colours. Ragheb Aga, who has been in fine wicket taking form and Peter Kituku are the two other players who could count themselves unlucky to have missed out. Aside from the captaincy, this is a squad that contains few surprises. David Obuya brings much needed depth to the batting while the recent form of Lameck Onyango (Ngoche) allows the selectors to sacrifice a bowler in order to do this. As announced earlier, Andy Kirsten will travel as coach for the Intercontinental Cup tie and the one day series which will consist of three games rather than two as initially thought.
Full squad:
1. Morris Ouma (Captain)
2. Jimmy Kamande (Vice Captain)
3. Kennedy Obuya
4. Alex Obanda
5. Steve Tikolo
6. Collins Obuya
7. Thomas Odoyo
8. Nehemiah Odhiambo
9. Lameck Ngoche
10. Peter Ongondo
11. Hiren Varaiya
12. Rakep Patel
13. Elijah Otieno
14. Seren Waters
15. David Obuya
Further comment to follow shortly.
Photo courtesy of Joseph Mutisya.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Still a day or so away...
Despite claims in the local press that the new Kenya Captain and squad were to be finalised on Sunday, Tom Tikolo, CEO of Cricket Kenya has informed Kenya Cricket.com via email that:
"The issue of captaincy and team to travel to Ireland will be sorted out in a day or so as all the procedures are in place.
The coach issue is still pending as we await advice from all parties concerned. Meanwhile Andy Kirsten will be going with the team to Ireland on temporary basis."
On the coach issue, this is no surprise at it was already known that Kirsten would continue to act as coach for the Ireland trip. For those waiting on selection and to hear regards the captaincy, this continues to increase the frustration. In terms of selection, it may well be that the selectors will now wait until after the next practice match, due to start today, before making their final decisions. If they had been originally planning on sending the same squad that travelled to South Africa for the World Cup qualifiers, this does make a kind of sense as at least two players not in that party, namely David Obuya and Peter Kituku, both gave indications that they should at least be under consideration for places.
So in the meanwhile, we continue to wait. At least there is the practice match and we will endeavour to bring you updates as they come through.
"The issue of captaincy and team to travel to Ireland will be sorted out in a day or so as all the procedures are in place.
The coach issue is still pending as we await advice from all parties concerned. Meanwhile Andy Kirsten will be going with the team to Ireland on temporary basis."
On the coach issue, this is no surprise at it was already known that Kirsten would continue to act as coach for the Ireland trip. For those waiting on selection and to hear regards the captaincy, this continues to increase the frustration. In terms of selection, it may well be that the selectors will now wait until after the next practice match, due to start today, before making their final decisions. If they had been originally planning on sending the same squad that travelled to South Africa for the World Cup qualifiers, this does make a kind of sense as at least two players not in that party, namely David Obuya and Peter Kituku, both gave indications that they should at least be under consideration for places.
So in the meanwhile, we continue to wait. At least there is the practice match and we will endeavour to bring you updates as they come through.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
David Obuya stakes a claim for a recall
David Obuya has given the Kenyan selectors plenty to think about after the squad's recent practice match played over 3 days that ended yesterday. Playing for an XI lead by Collins Obuya vs a Maurice Ouma skippered XI, he contributed 132 in the first innings, the only century of the match and added a further 70 odd runs in the second.
In a game that ended in a draw, the pitch seemed to favour the batsmen with most bowlers only picking up one or two wickets each. Of the bowlers, Peter Ongondo was reported to be the most incisive, while several batsmen spent quality time in the middle.
Other than David Obuya, others who found good touch were Jimmy Kamande (70* in the first innings), Kennedy Otieno 67* in the second innings, youngster Peter Kituku who made a half century and both Collins Obuya and Steve Tikolo who chipped in with quickfire 30s and 40s in the second innings.
Thanks to those players who took up valuable time to send the results, we will update as we hear more.
In a game that ended in a draw, the pitch seemed to favour the batsmen with most bowlers only picking up one or two wickets each. Of the bowlers, Peter Ongondo was reported to be the most incisive, while several batsmen spent quality time in the middle.
Other than David Obuya, others who found good touch were Jimmy Kamande (70* in the first innings), Kennedy Otieno 67* in the second innings, youngster Peter Kituku who made a half century and both Collins Obuya and Steve Tikolo who chipped in with quickfire 30s and 40s in the second innings.
Thanks to those players who took up valuable time to send the results, we will update as we hear more.
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