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Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from England

Kenya get 229/7

TAUNTON, May 15 - Five hundred to one outsiders Kenya put up a superb batting display to set Zimbabwe a target of 230 to chase in their World Cup match played at the county grounds here today.

Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell would not have been happy with his team's performance when his bowlers contributed to 29 (25 wides, 4 no-balls) of the total extras of 36 and the fielding for which they are highly regarded lapsed to allow Kenya run up a total of 229 for seven off 50 overs.

An opening stand of 62 off 13 overs between Kennedy Otieno (16) and Ravindu Shah (37) set Kenya on their way towards the competitive total.

Zimbabwe all-rounder Neil Johnson made the breakthrough by having Otieno caught by Grant Flower and then went onto take two further wickets to reduce Kenya to 87 for 4 in the 21st over.

A fifth-wicket stand of 84 off 22 overs between 24-year-old Alpesh Vadher and Thomas Odoyo saw Kenya recover to 171 for before Johnson returned to end the partnership. It was not before Odoyo had hit Johnson for 16 and leg-spinner Paul Strang for 18 off an over each.

Odoyo made 28 off 20 balls with two sixes, and Vadher made a top score of 54 off 90 balls reaching his half-century off 82 balls Some lusty hitting towards the latter stages by skipper Asif Karim who made 19 off as many balls, saw Kenya past the 200-mark, which left Zimbabwe needing to score at 4.60 runs an over to win.

Johnson finished with career best figures of 4 for 42, despite his figures being spoiled by Odoyo and Strang was the other most successful bowler taking 2 for 22 off eight.