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West Indies humiliated

Kenya (166) beat W Indies (93) by 73 runs

The West Indies, twice champions but losers more often than winners in recent times, plumbed new depths yesterday when they were bowled out by Kenya for 93 and lost ignominiously to the qualifiers by 73 runs.

Their annihilation was completed with the best part of 15 overs remaining, and the result must be recognised as the most startling upset in the history of the World Cup.

The West Indies, whose captain, Richie Richardson, will surely not survive in his post much longer, should still qualify for the quarter-finals, if only on superior run-rate. But if Kenya or Zimbabwe pull off one more surprise in their remaining games, they will be favourites to go through.

Richardson came out of the defeat badly. Team selection looked questionable, the players looked complacent and the bowlers gave away far too many extras.

After the game he told the assembled press: ``My congratulations to Kenya for winning a very important match. We did not play the way we should have. I am very, very disappointed. I have nothing more to add.'' Then he walked out.

From the Kenyan viewpoint, victory was reward for their indomitable spirit. Maurice Odumbe, man of the match and captain, led his team on a lap of honour in front of 5,000 spectators at the Nehru Stadium.

Afterwards he said: ``It's like winning the World Cup. It's a dream come true. The West Indies are our idols, and to beat an idol is a great thing. We came to the World Cup with a promise that we could play. I think we proved it today.''

Odumbe, 25, who has had a spell in Welsh League cricket, works in a firm of clearing and forwarding agents. Apparently there were other candidates for Kenya's captaincy, all of them more experienced, but Odumbe got the job as a long-term investment and because it was felt he was one to lead from the front.

The Kenyans lost the toss and batted first on a pitch which favoured the bowlers, and they had a score of only 166 to defend. They made it suffice through spirited, accurate bowling and fielding of the highest class.

Kenya's fate seemed sealed when Courtney Walsh struck twice in his first two overs

In contrast, the West Indies' bowling was indisciplined. A win over Australia in their final group match on Monday is unlikely. Should they lose, they will finish bottom of the table, probably level on points with Zimbabwe and Kenya, who both have an inferior run-rate.

For yesterday's match the West Indies picked Cameron Cuffy as their fourth seamer instead of Ottis Gibson, who did himself no discredit in their two previous games.

The intention may have been to rest Gibson, but the move went wrong because Cuffy went for 31 runs in eight overs and, worse still, delivered five wides and as many no-balls. Walsh overstepped six times and bowled three wides.

What grass there was on the pitch had a tinge of green, and Kenya's fate seemed sealed when Courtney Walsh struck twice in his first two overs.

An edge by Deepak Chudasama escaped the grasp of Roger Harper at second slip, but the rebound stayed in the air long enough for Brian Lara, at first slip, to complete the catch. Walsh then induced a fatal snick from Kennedy Otieno, and Kenya were 19 for two.

Tariq Iqbal, a portly, bespectacled and bearded Indian, played and missed so often that another setback seemed imminent, but he survived until the 10th over.

Steve Tikolo, in one over, lofted Walsh to long off for four and hoisted him for a straight six but, at 72, Odumbe departed, treading on his wicket. He was followed quickly by Tikolo, whose 29 off 51 balls was the highest score of the match.

Richardson used Keith Arthurton for four overs of innocuous spin

Finally Richardson, instead of recalling Walsh or Curtly Ambrose, used Keith Arthurton for four overs of innocuous spin, possibly to avert a fine for a low over-rate but, as it transpired, Kenya's last two wickets added 40 runs.

The pitch had eased when the West Indies batted, and yet the start was as bad as Kenya's.

An in-swinger from Rajab Ali defeated Richardson's lavish drive and flattened his off stump, and Sherwin Campbell was bowled behind his legs.

Then Ali dealt the mortal blow, Brian Lara slicing a drive. The West Indies were 33 for three, and two runs later Arthurton was run out.

Only Shivnarine Chanderpaul achieved any fluency, but Maurice Odumbe, bowling off-breaks, got him to mistime a cut.

Odumbe also accounted for the two remaining recognised batsmen, Jimmy Adams, caught at silly point, and Roger Harper, who played for non-existent turn.

Kenya won by 73 runs

Man of match: M Odumbe