South Africa (230 for 1) beat Kenya (229 for 7) by nine wickets South Africa cantered to a nine-wicket victory in the fifth match of the tri-series at Kimberley. Set to score 230 after a spirited Kenyan batting performance, South Africa rode on two partnerships of 115 each – the first between Herschelle Gibbs and Boeta Dippenaar, and then between Dippenaar and Klusener – to cruise home with 8.5 overs to spare.

For most of the first session Kenya looked the part, as Ravindu Shah, Maurice Odumbe and Thomas Odoyo posted half-centuries in a respectable score of 229. But on a perfect batting strip it proved to be woefully inadequate as their lack of bowling ability stood exposed again.

Kenya's 229 was almost entirely the result of two wonderful partnerships – 64 for the third-wicket between Shah and Steve Tikolo, and a record-breaking 106 for the fifth between Odumbe and Odoyo.

Odumbe gave Kenya the platform to prove they can compete when he won the toss on a good batting wicket. After the customary poor start, when Kennedy Obuya and David Obuya departed with only 18 on the board, Shah and Tikolo took the attack to the bowlers in a third wicket partnership which showed a refreshingly positive attitude.

Shah was a revelation. His front-foot play was good, and he was magnificent on the back foot. He sent an early message to South Africa with a pull off Pollock, and followed that up with a delightful flicked boundary off Langeveldt. But the pick of his shots was an imperious pull for six off Kemp. Not to be left behind, Tikolo deposited Ntini over mid-wicket for another six, as 16 runs came from four deliveries.

The dismissals of Tikolo and Ravindu Shah within seven overs pegged back Kenya, just when they threatened to break loose. Both fell to poor strokes – Tikolo nicked an attempted pull off Ntini to Boucher, while Shah dabbed at Boje outside the off stump and Herschelle Gibbs dived from gully to complete the catch.

Odumbe and Odoyo then stitched together the partnership which took Kenya to respectability. Content to milk the bowlers for singles and twos, the duo concentrated on consolidation. Just 67 runs came between the 20th and 40th overs, but they laid the ideal launching pad for the final onslaught. The last ten overs produced 71 runs - a feat even India could not achieve in their two matches against South Africa.

A score of 229 could have been challenging, but with Kenya's toothless attack, they never stood a chance. They had a few early opportunities - Collins Obuya dropped Gibbs when the batsman played a fierce square-drive in the air, and Jimmy Kamande made a mess of a run-out chance at short cover. The South African batsmen never looked back. Gibbs and Dippenaar put on 115 in under 19 overs and were severe on all the seamers - Martin Suji went for 30 off five overs, Odoyo's six cost him 46, while Tony Suji had 20 scored from his three. After he'd taken full toll of the hapless medium-pacers, Gibbs was undone by the left-arm spin of Brijal Patel as he checked a drive and spooned a catch to short cover. His 70 came off 60 deliveries with 14 delectable boundaries.

The Kenyan spinners did an adequate containing job in the middle overs, and only 41 came in a 14-over spell. But Dippenaar and Klusener seemed to be playing within themselves, and soon enough Klusener opened out as 72 came in the last 10 overs. Dippenaar made full use of the opportunity to score easy international runs, and remained unbeaten with a clinical 74 off 118 balls, while Klusener made up for an uncharacteristically slow start with some lusty boundaries towards the end. He finished with 75 off 74 balls.

Kenya's batting displayed a lot of heart, but their bowlers will have to take a cue from their batsmen if they are to have any chance of redemption in the remainder of tournament in which they are already eliminated.

S Rajesh is a sub-editor at Wisden.com India.

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