Zimbabwe overwhelm Kenya to take series

A greatly improved bowling performance by Zimbabwe, with Henry Olonga claiming six wickets, enabled them to beat Kenya by nine wickets with 34 overs to spare in the third and final one-day international, thus taking the series by two victories to nil, with one match abandoned.

The sun was shining hotly at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo as Kenya won the toss and decided to bat. Zimbabwe decided to rest Travis Friend, to accommodate Andy Blignaut, passed as fit again. Kenya replaced Tony Suji and Collins Obuya with David Obuya and Peter Ongondo.

Kenya, no doubt hoping for a better performance at the end of their brief tour of Zimbabwe, must have been very disappointed to slide to a total of 133 all out. Henry Olonga, bowling with much more control than he has done against Kenya so far, was the main destroyer with six wickets, but on the whole Kenya simply failed to handle accurate bowling with little help from the pitch.

Zimbabwe took an early grip on the match thanks to much improved bowling from Blignaut and Douglas Hondo on an excellent batting pitch. They moved the ball little if at all, but maintained a good length and a teasing line just 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-bat drive outside off stump that cost him his wicket.

Brijal Patel announced his arrival with an exquisite cover drive for four off Blignaut, but had only 8 to his credit when he tried to drive Blignaut through 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 20th over, and was causing Zimbabwe some brow-furrowing when it came to an unfortunate end and again the balance of the match altered rapidly. Tikolo drove Murphy through the covers but a superb recovery and return by Blignaut found him short of his crease coming back for the second. He scored 34 off 51 balls and had looked well set to play a major innings. This was the major turning point of the match.

In the next over Hitesh Modi (0) was another Taibu catch, this time off Olonga, who bowled much more accurately than he has done so far this tour. In his next over Kenya's remaining hopes crumbled as Odumbe disappointingly gave it away, caught for 48 (49 balls) from a half-hearted attempt to clear the field. Kenya suddenly found themselves struggling again at 116 for six - 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 that trapped Martin Suji lbw for 4, following which Peter Ongondo (0) drove him tamely straight to mid-off. Last man Joseph Angara (2) was bamboozled and trapped lbw by Olonga's slower ball, a full toss, giving him figures of six for 28 and leaving David Obuya 8 not out.

In the first over of Zimbabwe's reply, bowled by Kenya's most impressive bowler of the tour Martin Suji, Campbell (5) played an exquisite on-drive for four, but was then forced back and caught at the wicket; David Obuya was keeping in this match instead of Kennedy, who had a poor match in Kwekwe. Campbell was replaced by Andy Blignaut, Zimbabwe trying out another pinch-hitter after their success with Travis Friend in Kwekwe.

Mark Vermeulen though was the more dominant figure, standing tall and driving powerfully, and the Kenyan bowlers were able to offer him little more than batting practice. Two cracking fours in succession brought up Vermeulen's fifty off 43 balls, with 10 fours. Zimbabwe almost finished it off before lunch when they were 122 for one, with Blignaut having accelerated to reach his fifty off 35 balls. A worry was an approaching storm; the umpires asked Kenya if they would be willing to conclude the match, but they opted for the break.

Rain did come during the interval, delaying the resumption by just under an hour. Kennedy Otieno enjoyed the experience of bowling in international cricket for the first time, and it took two further overs for Zimbabwe to finish the match.

The stand between Vermeulen and Blignaut realized 130 unbroken; Vermeulen finished with 62 (12 fours) and Blignaut with 63 (8 fours, 3 sixes). Man of the Mahtch, however, was Henry Olonga and Man of the Series Travis Friend.