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Rediff.com  » News » Kenya make it to Super 6

Kenya make it to Super 6

March 01, 2003 21:41 IST
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Scorecard | Analysis

Tournament minnows Kenya, inspired by former captain Maurice Odumbe, became the first team from World Cup Group B to reach the Super Six stage when they beat Bangladesh by 32 runs on Saturday.

Man-of-the-match Odumbe, who top-scored with an unbeaten 52 in Kenya's 217 for seven, took four for 38 in 10 overs as Bangladesh slumped to 185 all out.

Kenya, who follow defending champions Australia from Group A into the next phase, have now beaten Bangladesh in six of their seven one-day meetings.

The Asian team, whose last victory in a one-day international came against Pakistan at the 1999 World Cup, have now gone 32 consecutive matches without a win.

"We are very happy that we have made it to the Super Sixes," said a jubilant Kenya captain Steve Tikolo. "We have always been asking for more games and this is our chance to play some more.

"These wins have been good for us and hopefully Kenyan cricket can go up from there."

Odumbe added: "I've always made a point of being man of the match in every World Cup and I'm so happy that I did it again today.

"This win shows that we are improving in leaps and bounds and hopefully we can keep it going."

Chasing 218 to win, Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals, with only Tushar Imran, hitting a composed 48, and Akram Khan, smashing a 58-ball, offering genuine resistance.

Odumbe, bowling his 10 overs on the trot, removed Alok Kapali (18), Imran, Sanwar Hossain (16) and captain Khaled Mahmud (three) as Kenya recorded their fourth victory of the tournament.

Earlier, Odumbe blasted an unbeaten 52 off 46 balls to help his side recover to 217 for seven, after they had slipped to 164 for six after off spinner Hossain removed Tikolo (27), Hitesh Modi (12) and Thomas Odoyo (19).

"We are very disappointed because 217 was not too big a total," said Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud after his team exited the tournament with just two points in six games, courtesy of a washout in their Benoni game against West Indies.

"Every match here has been important for us but we haven't had any luck in this tournament. There's a lot of hard work to be done."

Kenya, who recorded their first World Cup win with a shock upset of West Indies in 1996, have won four of their five group matches at this tournament and top the standings on 16 points alongside Sri Lanka.

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Source: REUTERS
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