South Africa v Kenya at Potchefstroom, 12 Feb 2003 CricInfo Live Report

South Africa v Kenya at Potchefstroom, 12 Feb 2003
Keith Lane

Kenya, Pool B innings: Toss, 38 Overs,
South Africa innings: 25 overs, 22 Overs,

SOUTH AFRICA BEAT KENYA BY TEN WICKETS
With the Kenya innings finishing early the South Africans came out to bat for eight overs before the luncheon break with Gibbs the aggressor scoring 21 with five fours and Kirsten 15 with two.

Having gone to lunch at 38 without loss Gibbs and Kirsten made short work of the Kenya attack racing to the 50 in 37 minutes and 57 balls which included ten fours.

The gamble of starting with Aasif Karim, the left arm orthodox spinner, after lunch failed as Gibbs took him to task twice dispatching him to the boundary, the second clearing the ropes by quite a margin.

Karim went for 17 in his two overs before being replaced by Collins Obuya, the right arm leg break bowler starting well in only giving away one run in his first over. His next over saw Gibbs showing no mercy easily lofting the bowler over long off and helping himself to a quick 50 in 46 balls and 57 minutes, including eight boundaries and two sixes.

Two sixes and two fours from Gibbs off the right arm off break bowler Maurice Odumbe brought up the 100 in 98 balls, 63 minutes and included 14 fours and four sixes.

Gary Kirsten not to be outdone went to his 50 in 63 balls including nine fours before Gibbs finished the game off with consecutive boundaries off Peter Ongondo in the 22nd over.

Gibbs finished on 87 off 66 , Kirsten 52 off 63 and South Africa 142 without loss winning by ten wickets.

KENYA BOWLED OUT FOR 140 IN 38 OVERS
Wickets continued to fall as Maurice Odumbe drove at a Klusener slower ball to be caught by Gibbs at mid wicket for 16 off 33 balls and no boundaries.

Collins Obuya followed the very next ball, leg before to Klusener and Kenya in deep trouble at 105/7.

The eighth wicket went down on 120 when Klusener picked up his third wicket when Martin Suji, without scoring, flicked to the leg side to pop a catch to Pollock at backward short leg.

Kluseners fourth wicket came by the way of a miss-timed lofted shot from Peter Ongondo to long on where Kirsten took the catch to dismiss the big hitter for 13 off 13 balls, including one four and one six. Kenya, at 139/9, in big danger of being bowled out inside the forty overs.

The end for Kenya came when Thomas Odoyo threw the bat at a Ntini delivery, got under it, and skied it to the on side where Boucher got under it and took the catch. Odoyo out for 22 off 41 balls including two fours and a six and Kenya bowled out for 140 in 38 overs.

Klusener who mixed his pace up well ended with 4/16 off eight overs, while Pollock ended with 2/15 off six overs.

KENYA STRUGGLE AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA
After winning the toss and electing to bat on a pitch that looked, and normally is, batting-friendly, Kenya made a disastrous start to their innings losing three wickets within the first ten overs.

First to go was Kennedy Otieno, involved in a mix-up with opening partner Ravindu Shah. Pushing forward to the off, Shah advanced a few steps down the pitch before saying no, too late for Otieno to get back to beat the direct hit from Herschelle Gibbs.

Otieno, furious with his batting partner, had to leave having scored one and Kenya were 2/1 after two overs.

Brijal Patel followed after Shaun Pollock had him pushing forward and edging to Mark Boucher for a regulation catch behind the wickets. His dismissal for one meant that Kenya slumped to 7/2 after 2.5 overs.

Steve Tikolo tried to get the score moving but driving on the up on the leg side, he failed to get over the ball and gave Gary Kirsten at mid on a catch that was well taken above the head. Tikolo headed for the change rooms having added three runs; Kenya 26/3 after 8.4 overs.

A good partnership developed between Shah and Hitesh Modi, but with the introduction of Nicky Boje in the 18th over, the 36-run partnership was broken with Modi edging a sweep to Pollock at short fine leg for 24 and Kenya 62/4.

Shah went to his ninth one-day 50 in 70 balls off 89 minutes, including six fours. Disaster for him came when he was sent back by Thomas Odoyo when looking for two to square leg. Run out by Klusener for 60 and Kenya 92/5 after 25.2 overs.

KENYA WIN THE TOSS AND BAT
South Africa go into their second World Cup match at the North West Stadium in Potchefstroom hoping to improve on their performance against the West Indies in Cape Town during the opening match while Kenya, playing their first match, will look towards another upset in the tournament.

The weather in Potchefstroom is perfect with a slight breeze across the ground that looks to be in perfect condition.

Kenya won the toss and elected to bat.

Kenya team: +KO Otieno, MO Odumbe, AY Karim, RD Shah, HS Modi, BJ Patel, MA Suji, TM Odoyo, *SO Tikolo, PJ Ongondo, CO Obuya.

South Africa team: *SM Pollock, +MV Boucher, N Boje, HH Dippenaar, HH Gibbs, JH Kallis, G Kirsten, L Klusener, CK Langeveldt, M Ntini, JN Rhodes.