Kenya clinch WCL title

Published February 8, 2007

NAIROBI, Feb 7: Opener David Obuya struck a magnificent 93 to help Kenya post an eight-wicket victory over Scotland on Wednesday to win the World Cricket League division one title.

Obuya put on 48 for the first wicket with Maurice Ouma (24) and a brisk 72 for the second wicket with Ravindu Shah (24) under the hot sun as the Kenyans sought to earn revenge for the 77-run defeat earlier in the tournament.

The victory was Kenya's first major triumph and a first silverware since reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in South Africa four years ago and provides a good warm-up for the next event in the Caribbean which starts in March.

Obuya was fired up after his partner Ouma was dramatically run out in the 16th over with the hosts having only made 48.

Obuya responded by hitting two huge sixes off Scottish bowlers Craig Wright and Majid Haq but was left disappointed when he fell short of his first ODI century.

“I felt disappointed with myself especially after Ravindu was willing to give the chance to make a century,” said Obuya.

“I think I was in a rush to make the hundred. If only I took my time I would have made my first century.”Kenyan skipper Steve Tikolo, however, hit three consecutive four to bring the match to an early close as the hosts overtook Scotland's 155 in 37.5 overs.

Scoreboard

SCOTLAND:

D. Watts c Mishra b Ongondo 24

M. Haq c Tikolo b Odoyo 3

R. Watson c Ongondo b Onyango 28

G. Hamilton c Ouma b Varaiya 0

N. McCallum run out 0

D. Brown run out 13

C. Smith lbw b Onyango 1

C. Wright lbw b Kamande 30

J. Blain c Tikolo b Kamande 9

R. Lyons not out 23

P. Hoffman c Kamande b Onyango 14

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-3, N-B5) 10

TOTAL (all out, 47 overs) 155

FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-59, 3-62, 4-62, 5-63, 6-66, 7-105, 8-108, 9-135.

BOWLING: Odoyo 6-0-26-1 (4nb, 1w); Ongondo 8-1-25-1 (1nb); Onyango 10-1-43-3; Varaiya 9-2-26-1 (1w); Tikolo 5-0-13-0 (1w); Kamande 9-2-20-2.

KENYA:

M. Ouma run out 23

D. Obuya c Hamilton b Lyons 93

R. Shah not out 24

S. Shah not out 12

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-2) 6

TOTAL (for two wkts, 37.5 overs) 158

FALL OF WKTS: 1-48, 2-145.

DID NOT BAT: T. Mishra, C.O. Obuya, T.M. Odoyo, J.K. Kamande, P.J. Ongondo, H.A. Varaiya, L.N. Onyango.

BOWLING: Blain 6-0-20-0; Hoffman 6-1-16-0; Wright 5-0-20-0; Haq 9-0-36-0; Lyons 8-1-44-1; Brown 3.5-0-18-0.

RESULT: Kenya won by eight wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: David Obuya.—AFP

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