Take a bow, Kenya, you belong here

What a fantastic achievement this is! Getting a berth in the semis of the World Cup is no small feat for any team, leave alone one of the mi...

What a fantastic achievement this is! Getting a berth in the semis of the World Cup is no small feat for any team, leave alone one of the minnows in the game — Kenya. Their maiden victory over Zimbabwe saw them enter the last four of the biggest-ever tournament in cricket.

What makes the occasion extra special for them is the fact that they beat two Test-playing countries on their way, and even gave the Indians a scare. Mind-boggling stuff indeed. Knowing their past record and form before the tournament, nobody gave them a chance. Well, they are here, and on their own merit. And they are ready to take on the Indians again.

Steve Tikolo, the Kenyan captain, led from the front, hardly allowing the Zimbabweans to forge a partnership by putting pressure on their batsmen. He made run-making difficult for them. Agreed, the ball was coming on slowly off the wicket, but the Kenyans bowled and fielded like tigers.

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Medium pacer Martin Suji, who bowled superbly the other day against the Indians, and leggie Collins Obuya made most of the slow wicket. Even veteran left-arm spinner, Asif Karim, chipped in with a very useful spell in the middle overs that literally strangled the Zimbabweans and forced them on the back foot.

The Zimbabweans, surprisingly, looked out of sorts. Their body language was poor, and their overall approach was lacklustre.

Their captain, Heath Streak, made a tactical blunder too. He kept on his medium pacers for too long. He should have introduced his slow bowlers earlier than he eventually did.

Thomas Odoyo, a very good striker, and veteran Maurice Odumbe made short work of their modest task by playing exhilarating cricket. They didn’t hang around scratching aimlessly, but literally clobbered the Zimbabweans to all parts of the ground. This sort of attitude has taken them thus far, and I am sure they must be looking forward for bigger things to happen.

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All in all, it was a tremendous performance by the Kenyans who beat the Zimbabweans comprehensively in all departments of the game. They looked in total control throughout, and in the end finished it in great style. Well played, Kenya! Enjoy it till it lasts.

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