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Paul Strang caught the Kenyans in a spinning web as favourites Zimbabwe romped to a 133-run win in the inaugural match of the Meril International Tournament at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The leg-spinner returned with 5 for 22, his second five-wicket haul in his 71st one-day appearance, as the Kenyans, chasing a huge 272 in the stipulated 50 overs, were bundled out for 139 with six overs to spare.

Strang, whose best figures is 5 for 21, tormented the spin-illiterate Kenyans after their openers - Ravindu Shah and Kennedy Otieno - gave them a solid start. Negotiating the new-ball attack quite comfortably, the two put on 54 runs in 14.3 overs before Strang struck in his second over.

Strang, who was unfortunate not to have Otieno in his first over, started the rot by getting a menacingly poised Shah brilliantly caught and bowled for 28. The highest run-getter in the Kenyan innings hammered a quartet of fours, and a towering sixer against paceman Eddo Brandes that travelled all the way into the eastern gallery. But then the stylish right-hander helplessly watched his fiercely driven shot taken by a diving Strang to his right.

In 19th over, one-down Steve Tikolo, the most experienced batsman in the side, ran himself out while chasing a sharp single on a misfield before Strang removed the other opener with the last ball of that over.

The wicketkeeper-batsman, who was dropped by Andy Whittall while on 17, returned to the dressing room giving a simple catch to Zimbabwe skipper Alistair Campbell at silly mid-off.

In his next over, Strang bowled Hitesh Modi and Sandeep Gupta with successive deliveries, reducing Kenya to 72 for five.

Bowling without any break from the Paltan End, the 29-year-old deceived Alpesh Vadher with a flighted delivery, which the latter missed completely, leaving Andy Flower with a simple stumping job. Strang was the unanimous choice for the man-of-the-match award afterwards.

Andy Whittall, bowling in tandem with Strang, took the wicket of former captain Maurice Odumbe, who after scoring 13 became a victim of a magnificent running effort by Stuart Carlisle.

With the Kenyans reduced to 101 for eight, captain Asif Karim fought a lost cause with Thomas Odoyo. They could score 34 runs for the ninth wicket before Heath Streak stepped in to finish the futile resistance.

Returning in his second spell in the 42nd over, the right-arm seamer first had Odoyo in front of his wicket for 25 and then he sent the stumps of Martin Suji cart-wheeling.

Earlier, electing to bat first, Zimbabwe rode on two half-centuries from Andy Flower and Eddo Brandes to score 272 for six.

Andy hit a fluent 99-ball 83 to become the first Zimbabwean to complete 3,000 runs in his 101st one-day international. He stayed at the crease for 128 minutes and laced his 25th fifty with eight fours.

Coming in at number four, the left-hander put on 106 for the fourth wicket with skipper Alistair Campbell (37) and 53 for the fifth wicket with Brandes.

The former Zimbabwe captain reached his 50 in the 33rd over, playing only 65 balls. In that prodigal over off Steve Tikolo, he hit three fours to extract 14 runs.

Earlier Grant, twin brother of Andy, and Neil Johnson put on 44 runs for the first wicket in 9.3 overs. Grant, at 15, was first to go when he tried to loft Tony Suji over the top but ended up offering a simple catch to the bowler.

But Brandes was the man who provided the real thrust in their innings as the big hitter smashed 53 playing only 34 balls, and with the help of five fours and a six. It's his second half-century in one-dayers.

Kenya will take on hosts Bangladesh at the same venue today.