Kenya’s fairytale World Cup will continue into the final week of the tournament after Steve Tikolo’s side trounced Zimbabwe by seven wickets at Goodyear Park in Bloemftontein on Wednesday.
The Kenyans are just 100 overs away from a place in the World Cup final, but first they have the considerable hurdle of India at Kingsmead next Thursday to overcome. Still, Kenya were not supposed to progress to the Super Six stage of the competition, let alone the semi-finals and they will not fear the Indians, having beaten them in Port Elizabeth last summer.
The Kenyan victory was set up by a woeful Zimbabwean batting display. The Zimbabweans lost wickets early and were never able to come to terms with either the Kenyan medium-pacers, the leg-spin of Collins Obuya or Tikolo’s off-spin.
Man of the match Martin Suji and Obuya picked up three wickets apiece with only Andy Flower offering any real resistance with 63 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 133.
Kenya started nervously and had lost their first three wickets for 62 before Maurice Odumbe joined Thomas Odoyo to see Kenya home without further loss. Odumbe cracked an unbeaten 38 off just 20 balls while Odoyo was 43 not out at the end.
Apart from anything else, the victory guarantees Kenya $400 000 in prize money. For a side that functions without substantial sponsorship, the windfall will exceed their wildest fantasies.
Zimbabwe’s defeat eliminates them from the competition and the final semi-final berth will go to either New Zealand or Sri Lanka. If New Zealand beat India at SuperSport Park on Friday, they will earn the right to play Australia in the first semi-final at St George’s Park on Tuesday. But if New Zealand lose and Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe in East London on Saturday, then the Sri Lankans will face Australia.