Two Kenyan brothers took centre stage at the World Cup on Monday after guiding minnow Kenya to a shock 53-run victory over group leaders Sri Lanka in the biggest upset of the tournament.
First to shine was older brother Kennedy Otieno who top scored for the East Africans with 60 off 88 balls to help Kenya make 210 for nine in its 50 overs after being put into bat at the Nairobi Gymkhana club.
His innings included two big sixes off Sri Lanka’s star paceman Chaminda Vaas. Kenya’s total, however, didn’t appear too intimidating on a slowish pitch. But a national one-day best of five for 24 in 10 overs by Collins Obuya destroyed Sri Lanka’s middle order and put Kenya on the path to victory.
”I feel very great at the moment. I think I will become Kenya’s best bowler,” an elated, almost speechless, Obuya said. Kenyan skipper Steve Tikolo said Obuya’s performance with the ball was among the best in the World Cup.
A third brother, David Obuya (22) is also in the Kenya squad, but did not play on Monday.
The three Kenya brothers can thank their father for being involved in cricket. He worked at the Aga Khan Cricket club in Nairobi and young Kennedy would go along to matches and help fetch balls and carry equipment as a child, said Kenya Cricket Association Chairman Jimmy Rayani.
From there, Kennedy fell in love with the game and his two younger brothers followed his lead.
This was at a time when indigenous Kenyans were beginning to make their mark on the cricket scene which had been dominated by Kenyans of South Asian origin.
Collins Obuya, a 21-year-old leg-break spinner who made his debut for Kenya in 2001 against the West Indies, only had nine international one-day wickets to his name before Monday’s match. His previous best figures were 2 for 40, he said.
But crucially, two of his most recent wickets came in Kenya’s four-wicket victory over group rivals Canada. In that match, his 10 overs went for 46 runs. In the team’s first game of the tournament, a 10-wicket loss to South Africa, he bowled five overs for 32 runs without taking a wicket.
Kenya gained another four points after New Zealand refused to play in the East African nation because of security concerns.
In contrast to Obuya, Otieno (30) is one of the more experienced Kenyan players. The right-handed batsman, who keeps wicket as well as opens the batting, has played in 51 one day internationals since making his debut against India in 1996 and is used to the big stage.
He boasts two international centuries — both of which came against Bangladesh — and he made 85 against Australia in his second one-day international.
He was due some runs ahead of Monday’s game, having been run out for one against South Africa and being bowled for four against Canada.
He also had a good day behind the stumps on Monday, taking two catches — both off his brother’s bowling. ”Both (brothers) are very important to the Kenyan team and David is maturing well. He can really tonk the ball,” Rayani said. ”What a performance against Sri Lanka who have performing so well in the tournament”
Sri Lanka was unbeaten going into the game. ”He (Obuya) bowled with real heart and was not overcome by the occasion,” Rayani said.
Kenya also boasted another two brothers in its team on Monday — Martin and Tony Suji.
Martin took one wicket 24 runs off his eight overs and was not out for three, while Tony made six runs and took two catches. Kenya now has a genuine chance of reaching the World Cup’s second round for the first time. The teams next matches are against Bangladesh and the West Indies, who they famously beat in the 1996
World Cup, Kenya’s first.
”We’re looking forward to beating Bangladesh and going on to the Super Six,” Collins Obuya said. – Sapa-AP