Kenyan Win Levels The Series

Well, we knew that last night, before I went to bed, but it has a nice ring to it, so I thought I'd say it again. I like the sound of it for several reasons: First we won. Against a Full member. They may be going through strife, but that doesn't matter, we beat them and convincingly so. Second is that we came back from ourselves being trounced a day before. That is no easy thing to do in any sport, let alone cricket where the mental game is so important. Two days ago, our batsmen largely struggled, and our bowlers seemed incapable of taking a wicket. Yesterday, lead by a wonderful 98 by Steve Tikolo, our batsmen, and inportantly, the middle order looked imposing. Our bowlers, who had been belted around the same ground a day earlier, came back strong to bowl the Zimbabweans out with 4 overs and 79 runs to go. That is a huge effort and should be commended. Third, we are in a series. Against a Full member. And there is another one due to start almost as soon as this one finishes. Considering that Kenya has not even played a full member country for 2 years this is in itself a huge step. Make no mistake, yesterday was the day when Kenyan cricket stood up and showed it was worth being counted. Harare beckons, and Kenya will go into Wednesday's match with the confidence that they can win. They should not be overconfident - several of the Zimbabweans have shown plenty of fight and talent, but we have proved to the World and ourselves that we can win.

.

It was also exciting to see that several of the players who had an impact are still young. Tanmay Mishra's 45 speaks of big things to come for the 19 year old, although he needs to worry less about reaching milestones and just get on with it. Likewise Alfred Luseno showed sand to tighten his line and take a wicket in his second spell. It was his first in One Day Internationals, and will have given him the taste for more and the confidence to go after them. Maurice Ouma failed again with the bat, but showed safe hands in the field. His batting will come good as he is more than capable. All I would like to see now is Kalpesh Patel get a run - probably in place of Ababu, who was the only bowler not to take a wicket yesterday.

.

I am not forgetting our seasoned players. Tikolo's 98 may well be seen as the turning point in this series, and Odoyo again did his bit with both the bat, and then the ball to take the first two wickets. One player who has really started to impress over the last couple of tours is Peter Ongondo. He was the pick of Kenya's bowling yesterday taking 3-26, all crucial wickets. In a way it was a shame that he only bowled 7 overs, so missed the opportunity to take a bigger haul, but good captaincy by Tikolo to ensure that all his bowlers got a taste of the action. There is nothing like a whiff of success to spur a player on.

.

It is worth noting the difference in extras between the two matches. On Saturday, Kenya gave away 18 extras in a total of 231. Yesterday, they only gave away 7. I don't know whether this was due to the fact that they were tired on Saturday, or it was a concious effort yesterday, but the improvement is worth noting. All in all, there has been a lot of positives to come from the weekend. There are still some things I am unsure about - Like Tony Suji at 3, but if Kenya keep winning, I guess I will learn to get used to them. I can't wait 'till Wednesday and Harare!

.

Full Scorecard from cricinfo.

Kenya vs Zimbabwe 2nd ODI - Zimbabwe Innings

I will endeavour to keep up to date with this throughout the night, however I do have to work tomorrow, so excuse me if I have to tear myself away to go to bed.

Kenya need to restrict Zimbabwe to less than 285 to win the game and level the series. We have the bowlers to do this, but they must all perform to potential. It is especially important that our strike bowlers namely Odoyo, and I would assume Luseno, take early wickets.

UPDATE 1:

Thomas Odoyo has struck early to remove Zimbabwe captain Terry Duffin caught behind for 3. This is exactly the start Kenya were looking for after struggling to take wickets yesterday. Just as Tikolo has renewed faith that we can bat, this should inspire the rest of the bowlers as well. Good to see he is opening with Luseno. After 3 overs, Odoyo has 1 maiden, and 1-4, while Luseno has bowled 1 over for 2 runs. Granted it is very early days, but this is just what Kenya need.

UPDATE 2:

The run chase seems evenly poised at the moment. Odoyo removed Masakadza for 10, caught Ongondo, but Rinke and Taylor are going at over a run a ball and looking dangerous. Zimbabwe are currently on 2-69 after 11 overs, and Kenya now desperately need a third wicket to slow the run rate. A bowling change must be in the offing with Odoyo having bowled 6 overs and taken 2 for 32, and Luseno having bowled 5 and taken 0-35. Ongondo will probably be thrown the ball and asked to either stem the flow of runs, or even better, take a wicket or two.

UPDATE 3:

Peter Ongondo has struck 3 times in 5 overs to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 5-122 after 22 overs. Luseno, who was earlier going at 7 runs an over has also made a comeback, and bowled a tighter line to have figures of 9 overs, no wicket, 43 runs (4.8 an over). All Ongondo's wickets have been players who were looking dangerous: Rinke hit 52 off 45, Taylor was 10 off 10, and Strydom was 18 off 19. Zimbabwe's run rate is still a worry, but the regular loss of wickets will be a concern, and should increase the pressure on the batsmen at the crease. Of the bowlers, we will probably see Tikolo coming in to the attack soon to add further pressure with his spin, and possibly either Kamande or Patel as well. Ababu is a bit of a concern, as he has bowled 2 overs and conceeded 11 runs. In the domestic league, his wickets come from restrictive bowling, which is not happening at this higher level. Zimbabwe's most dangerous remaining batsman is Coventry who is on 17 from 18 balls faced. If we can remove him without conceeding too many more runs, we will be a long way towards winning the match.

UPDATE 4:

Finally a wicket to reward the hard work for Alfred Luseno. He has had Coventry caught by Ouma for 23, which is incidentally his third catch of the day. Steve Tikolo has also had Higgins caught behind for 5 to have Zimbabwe in real trouble at 7-154 with 30 overs gone. This leaves Zimbabwe needing over a run a ball with only 3 wickets in hand. It is good to see Kenya's bowlers doing what they failed to do yesterday. Especially nice is seeing the youngster, Luseno take his first ever ODI wicket - hopefully there will be many more over his career. The game is looking increasingly better for Kenya, but the teenager, Meth still needs to be taken care of. He is currently on 29 with a 100% strike rate, so still a danger. 3 more wickets, and we're there though - it is so close you can feel it.

UPDATE 5:

Kenya are nearing an historic victory at Bulaweyo: Brijal Patel has got in on the act bowling Mahwire, and Utseya has given Ouma his fourth catch off Kamande's bowling. Meth is still putting up a spirited resistance on 42, but it is nearly game over for Zimbabwe. They are 9-183 with 9 overs remaining, so need to score at 11 runs an over. Finally, all that everyone involved with Kenyan cricket has worked so hard for is within our grasp. This is a day that will long be remembered for cricket in Kenya.

UPDATE 6 - VICTORY!

It is all over. Meth out - caught Ouma (who it now appears was falsely credited by the beeb with more catches than he actually took), bowled Patel.

Zimbabwe are all out for 205, and Kenya win by 79 Runs. I will post on this result more at leisure. For now, it is 2:30 am, I'm off to bed and dreams of victory and the great future of Kenyan cricket.

Lala salaama.

Kenya vs Zimbabwe 2nd ODI

Zimbabwe Win Toss.

Zimbabwe have won the toss and elected to field. Maurice Ouma ia an early casualty trapped LBW by Rainsford for 4 with the total at 11.

You have to be kidding me - Suji is in at 3 again. Why? He is not a sufficiently accomplished batsman for this position. I hope he proves me wrong, but he potentially puts a lot of pressure on the others if he cannot maintain a decent run rate. Zimbabwe showed yesterday that Kenya will need to set a target of 280 odd to be competetive. A great shame for Ouma - he needs to come good soon. Each time he doesn't, he increases pressure on himself. The side seems to be pretty much unchanged from yesterday. Why take youngsters like Luseno and Kalpesh Patel, and not use them? I cannot believe that after yesterday's efforts with the ball, the attack has not been changed.

The game is live on two sites:BBC and ECB. I shall also be posting here as long as I can through the night.

UPDATE 1:

Kennedy Otieno out - caught Mahwire, bowled Ireland for 13. Steve Tikolo replaces him at the crease, and is currently on 11. Score is 2-39 after 11 overs.

Exactly the start Kenya did not need. Hopefully Tikolo can come up with a captains innings, and Suji proves me wrong.

UPDATE 2:

Correction - there has been a change to the bowling, Luseno is in for Ngoche (BBC just updated their page). I would have changed Ababu myself, but at least it is something. Lets hope he has an effect.

UPDATE 3:

Finally an update without a wicket. After 15 overs, Steve Tikolo appears to be trying to assert himself. He has moved to 29 off 26. Lets hope he can keep it up. Suji is being steady on 11 off 32 which is fine so long as Steve keeps going, but again, it is too slow a run rate for a number 3. After 15 overs, Kenya are 2-62.

UPDATE 4:

2-97 after 20 overs. Steve Tikolo is nearing his half century. He is currently 46 from 40 balls, while Suji is still with him on 29 off 48. Keep it up guys!

UPDATE 5:

Suji has perished for 36 of 52, which brings Thomas Odoyo to the crease to join Tikolo, who continues at well over a run a ball for 77 off 53. This could be a very important partnership for Kenya. If Tikolo can continue, and Odoyo repeat his performance of yesterday, we could set a very defendable total. I ma still unconvinced on Suji at 3. His runs came at a time when kenya needed to steady the ship, and he provided good back up to Tikolo. I still feel, we would be better off with a better batsman at 3, and Suji a bit further down the order. Score after 26 overs, 3-142. Run rate now up to just under 5.5. Hopefully this partnership keeps it moving in that direction.

UPDATE 6:

Bad news, Steve Tikolo has been caught and bowled by R.Higgins two runs short of his century. His 98 came off 75 balls and included 14 boundaries. It is great to see Tikolo showing his skill, but a shame for him to fall so close to another milestone. His departure brings Tanmay Mishra to the crease to join Thomas Odoyo who has been playing second fiddle to his captain with 16 off 36. Odoyo now needs to step up, and take the fight to the Zimbabweans himself. Mishra, who was run out for 4 last match, now has a great opportunity to show his worth for Kenya. Lets hope they can take us to a good total. The run rate is currently 5.3, and we need to set Zimbabwe about 280 to 300 to be competetive, judging by yesterday's match. There are still wickets in hand, and enough overs that sensible batting, then a launch in the last few overs could take us there.

UPDATE 7:

10 overs to go, and still 6 wickets in hand. Thomas Odoyo has moved to 30 from 50, and Tanmay Mishra, the 19-year old has hit 25 off 26. Kenya are 4-214, and have scored at a rate of 5.35. with wickets in hand, we should see an escalation of the run rate in these last overs. At the present rate, we will set a target of 267, at 6 an over, we will set 274, 7 an over will give us 284, and 8 an over a very handy 294. I would say anything from 280 upwards should be defendable, so long as the bowlers can perform to their potential. It is great to see Mishra making a decent fist of it - hopefully, he can continue on to post a big score for himself, and Kenya.

UPDATE 8:

5 overs to go. Odoyo has fallen to Higgins, caught Taylor for 38. Mishra continues to show why he was brought on this tour with a useful 45 off 50. He needs to step it up in the final 5 overs to take Kenya to a defendable total. Kamande has joined him at the crease, and is currently on 9 from 12. Kenya are 5-258 with 30 balls remaining. At the very least, we need to finish at a run a ball, and Mishra, being the batsman in, has to increase the tempo. All in all though, this has been a much better performance than yesterday.

UPDATE 9 & Summary of Kenya's innings:

A late flurry by Jimmy Kamande after the loss of first Tanmay Mishra, who got bogged down trying to reach his maiden 50 (he made 46 off 62), and then Peter Ongondo for a duck, has helped Kenya to a total of 7-285 at the end of 50 overs.

Kamande, who came into this tour with his place in the side very much at risk, has performed well so far with the bat, and todays effort - 32 not out from 20 balls, including 5 fours may have marked his belated coming of age. He has missed much of the action over the last few years due to a suspect bowling action, but if as is reported, that is now fixed, his resurgence will be a useful boost to Kenya's game. Two other players stand out for their efforts today. Steve Tikolo came to the crease with the tour in a precarious position. We had been thumped yesterday, and with 2 cheap wickets down, things were not looking good today. To take only 75 balls to reach 98 in that position is a real indicator of his class. Not only was it a captain's knock in the context of the game, but will have restored belief in the team that we can win the series. It is a huge shame he did not get his hundred - seldom has one of our players deserved it more.

Then there is young Tanmay Mishra. Only 19, and having been run out for 4 on debut yesterday, he must have felt immense pressure when he came to the crease. His first 45 runs came at a run a ball, before the occasion got to him and he allowed himself to be tied down. Those runs were very important for Kenya, and confirm Mishra's quality. As he matures, he will find it easier to get over the milestones, and there should be many. His performance is heartening news for Kenya, as it shows that there is talent there that will replace the current players as they move towards retirement. If Alfred Luseno, who would have been watching from the boundary, can follow Mishra's example when he bowls this afternoon, it could be a very good day indeed for Kenya cricket.

285 leaves Zimbabwe needing just under six an over to chase. With the fielders we have, it should be possible for the bowlers to stifle the batsmen enough that this creeps above a run a ball. Odoyo needs someone to replace Martin Suji as his opening partner. Ongondo was the best of the bowlers yesterday, but wasn't able to restrict the opposition in the same way Suji can, which often lead to Odoyo taking a wicket. Luseno is fast. Let's hope he is aslo accurate, and can remove the openers. A couple of early wickets, and 285 should be perfectly defendable.

Today's NPCA fixtures

Today's NPCA matches will have a slightly different feel to them, as the teams will be without the cream of their players who are doing National service in Zimbabwe. Here are the fixtures:

Group A:
S C L Y L vs Parklands S C Ndovus at Pindolia Academy.
Kanbis 'B' vs Oshwal XI at Eastleigh.
Simba Union vs Kanbis 'A' at Simba Union.

Group B:
Ngara vs Sir Ali 'A' at Ngara.
Ruaraka vs Premier Club at Ruaraka.
Swamibapa 'A' vs Parklands S C Rhinos at Premier Club.

Group C:
Sir Ali 'B' vs Qutbis at Sir Ali.
Kongonis vs Swamibapa 'B' at Nbi Club.
Nbi Jaffery vs Khrishna XI at Nbi Jafferys.

Group D:
Nbi Institute vs Golden XI at Nbi Institute.
Stray Lions vs Nbi Nookers at Nbi School.
Aga Khan S C vs Nbi Gymkhana at Aga Khan.

With the wobbles shown by the Kenya team against Zimbabwe yesterday, some of those in action today who just missed out on a place on tour, will be hoping to catch the selectors' eye. It should make for some good cricket.

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)