Saturday 10 February 2007

Kenya Wins the inaugural ICC World Cricket League

From ICC

David Obuya hit a decisive 93 for Kenya as the hosts secured an eight-wicket victory over Scotland to clinch the inaugural ICC World Cricket League Division 1 title at Gymkhana on Wednesday.

Scotland captain Craig Wright won the toss and, as he did on Sunday when the Scots completed a 77-run win over the Kenyans, opted to bat first.

Sadly for the Scots, they fell well short of the 254 total posted three days ago, managing just 155 all out in 47 overs with Lameck Onyango claiming three for 43.

The Kenyans took no chances in amassing 158, losing just two wickets with Obuya helped out by Maurice Ouma (23), Ravi Shah (24 not out) and Steve Tikolo (12 not out) as Roger Harper's side triumphed with 12.1 overs to spare.

Scotland coach Peter Drinnen recalled Fraser Watts, John Blain, Colin Smith and Paul Hoffmann after the quartet were rested for Monday's match against

Bermuda, while Harper stuck with the same Kenya side that saw off Canada.

Thomas Odoyo, who ripped through Canada's top order on Monday to help Kenya secure their place in the final, made the breakthrough in the fifth over with the dismissal of Majid Haq.

Haq, man-of-the-match last time out against the Kenyans for his innings of 71, made three on this occasion before edging to Tikolo at slip.

His replacement Ryan Watson had a let-off in the eighth over when he was put down by wicketkeeper Ouma off the bowling of Peter Ongondo.

The Scots suffered two scares in the 11th over, bowled by Odoyo.

First Watts was lucky not to be run out when Watson took a risky quick single which would have seen the opener walking had David Obuya managed a direct hit at the bowler's end. Then Watson offered a chance which fell just short of Obuya.

Watson's luck ran out four overs later when, after making 28, he mis-cued a pull shot off Onyango and looped the ball high to Ongondo at short fine-leg to leave the Scots on 59 for two.

Watts soon followed for 24, lashing a Ongondo delivery to square leg, where Tanmay Mishra held on at the second attempt.

Hiren Varaiya was then brought into the Kenyan attack and his slow left-arm orthodox bowling had an immediate impact. His second ball induced an edge from Gavin Hamilton, Ouma taking the catch before Hamilton had put a run on the board.

Neil McCallum - hero of Scotland's opening-game triumph over Ireland last week - was another who failed to trouble the scorers before being the victim of a brilliant piece of fielding by David Obuya.

Varaiya was again the bowler, enticing the Edinburgh-born batsman to come down the pitch. But his mis-hit only went to silly point and Obuya, whose quick thinking and accurate throw sent McCallum on his way.

Smith fared only slight better, making one before being trapped leg before wicket by Onyango to leave the Scots reeling on 66 for six.

Dougie Brown stuck around with Wright long enough to add 13 to the total, but was then run out after good work from Collins Obuya when attempting a quick single.

Wright's innings came to an end two overs later, playing across the line to Jimmy Kamande. He was given out lbw by umpire Darrell Hair after making 30.

Blain made nine before clipping a Kamande delivery to mid-wicket and providing Tikolo with his second catch of the innings.

In typical fashion, Hoffmann's first contribution was a six off Kamande, and he added two boundaries in the next over bowled by Onyango before being caught by Kamande at point, leaving Ross Lyons unbeaten on 23.

The Kenyans did not set about their pursuit of 156 in any great hurry, with the required run-rate only marginally over three an over.

Ouma threw his wicket away needlessly attempting a single that David Obuya was not interested in, McCallum's throw from point proving his downfall.

Obuya was not happy with his opening partner, throwing his bat down indisgust. But he did not let that distract him for too long.

He eventually fell just seven runs short of his century, clipping a Lyons delivery to Hamilton at mid-wicket.

But that merely delayed the inevitable as skipper Tikolo came in and hit 12 off seven balls - fittingly ending with a boundary - to see his team home in style.

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