da betsson： A greatly improved bowling performance by Zimbabwe, with Henry Olongaclaiming six wickets, enabled them to beat Kenya by nine wickets with 34overs to spare in the third and final one-day international, thus taking theseries by two victories to
John Ward15-Dec-2002A greatly improved bowling performance by Zimbabwe, with Henry Olongaclaiming six wickets, enabled them to beat Kenya by nine wickets with 34overs to spare in the third and final one-day international, thus taking theseries by two victories to nil, with one match abandoned.The sun was shining hotly at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo as Kenya won thetoss and decided to bat. Zimbabwe decided to rest Travis Friend, toaccommodate Andy Blignaut, passed as fit again. Kenya replaced Tony Sujiand Collins Obuya with David Obuya and Peter Ongondo.Kenya, no doubt hoping for a better performance at the end of their brieftour of Zimbabwe, must have been very disappointed to slide to a total of133 all out. Henry Olonga, bowling with much more control than he has doneagainst Kenya so far, was the main destroyer with six wickets, but on thewhole Kenya simply failed to handle accurate bowling with little help fromthe pitch.Zimbabwe took an early grip on the match thanks to much improved bowlingfrom Blignaut and Douglas Hondo on an excellent batting pitch. They movedthe ball little if at all, but maintained a good length and a teasing linejust outside off stump and three batsmen fell for 23 runs. Ravindu Shah (0)was caught at the wicket in the first over, prodding outside the off stump,while Kennedy Obuya almost did a dance of frustration at the diagonal-batdrive outside off stump that cost him his wicket.Brijal Patel announced his arrival with an exquisite cover drive for fouroff Blignaut, but had only 8 to his credit when he tried to drive Blignautthrough the off side and was caught at second slip.Kenya had to look to her two vintage batsmen, Steve Tikolo and Maurice Odumbe, to effect a recovery, and this they did to good effect. The bowlers’ accuracy slipped a little, and Odumbe pulled Hondo for a remarkable low six in an over that cost 16 altogether. Tikolo’s preference was for Murphy, 12 runs coming off his first over.The partnership added 82 off 85 balls, bringing up the hundred in the 20thover, and was causing Zimbabwe some brow-furrowing when it came to anunfortunate end and again the balance of the match altered rapidly. Tikolodrove Murphy through the covers but a superb recovery and return by Blignautfound him short of his crease coming back for the second. He scored 34 off51 balls and had looked well set to play a major innings. This was themajor turning point of the match.In the next over Hitesh Modi (0) was another Taibu catch, this time offOlonga, who bowled much more accurately than he has done so far this tour.In his next over Kenya’s remaining hopes crumbled as Odumbe disappointinglygave it away, caught for 48 (49 balls) from a half-hearted attempt to clearthe field. Kenya suddenly found themselves struggling again at 116 forsix – and, with their rather weak tail exposed, at the point of no return.Olonga took his wicket tally to five with another full-length delivery thattrapped Martin Suji lbw for 4, following which Peter Ongondo (0) drove himtamely straight to mid-off. Last man Joseph Angara (2) was bamboozled andtrapped lbw by Olonga’s slower ball, a full toss, giving him figures of sixfor 28 and leaving David Obuya 8 not out.In the first over of Zimbabwe’s reply, bowled by Kenya’s most impressivebowler of the tour Martin Suji, Campbell (5) played an exquisite on-drivefor four, but was then forced back and caught at the wicket; David Obuya waskeeping in this match instead of Kennedy, who had a poor match in Kwekwe.Campbell was replaced by Andy Blignaut, Zimbabwe trying out anotherpinch-hitter after their success with Travis Friend in Kwekwe.Mark Vermeulen though was the more dominant figure, standing tall anddriving powerfully, and the Kenyan bowlers were able to offer him littlemore than batting practice. Two cracking fours in succession brought upVermeulen’s fifty off 43 balls, with 10 fours. Zimbabwe almost finished itoff before lunch when they were 122 for one, with Blignaut havingaccelerated to reach his fifty off 35 balls. A worry was an approachingstorm; the umpires asked Kenya if they would be willing to conclude thematch, but they opted for the break.Rain did come during the interval, delaying the resumption by just under anhour. Kennedy Otieno enjoyed the experience of bowling in internationalcricket for the first time, and it took two further overs for Zimbabwe tofinish the match.The stand between Vermeulen and Blignaut realized 130 unbroken; Vermeulenfinished with 62 (12 fours) and Blignaut with 63 (8 fours, 3 sixes). Man ofthe Mahtch, however, was Henry Olonga and Man of the Series Travis Friend.