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Collins Obuya of Kenya appeals for a wicket during the World Cup match against Bangladesh on March 1 at The Wanderers in Johannesburg

Photo: MICHAEL STEELE/Getty Images

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Kenya shock 1996 champs Sri Lanka

Unknown leg spinner Collins Obuya stole the limelight from Muttiah Muralitharan as Kenya pulled off one of the great World Cup shocks against Sri Lanka.

The 21-year-old Obuya took five for 24 in 10 overs, the ninth best bowling figures in tournament history, as Kenya won the Group B encounter by 53 runs to give the Kenyans a real chance of making the Super Six stage, which they eventually did.

The Kenyan, players, who had made a less-than-convincing 210 for nine after being asked to bat, leapt for joy and set off on a long victory lap when Maurice Odumbe bowled tail-ender Dilhara Fernando at the end of the 45th over.

Former Indian test player Sandeep Patil coached the Kenyan team. The victory rivalled Kenya's shock triumph over West Indies in the 1996 World Cup.

Kenya captain Steve Tikolo said: 'This was very excellent. I think he (Obuya) bowled the spell of his life.'

Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka's stunned captain, responded: 'We did not play like professionals. We looked like amateurs.'

Text: Faisal Shariff

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