45.3 overs South Africa 354 for 3 (G Kirsten 124, N McKenzie 131*) beat Kenya 146 all out (C Langeveldt 4-21) by 208 runs
Scorecard

A commanding batting performance by South Africa gave them a record 208-run victory in their last league match of the tri-series at Cape Town. They now get a three-day break before Friday's final, while India take on Kenya in a virtual semi-final at Paarl on Wednesday.

Shaun Pollock broke Kenya's winning streak with the toss, and on a perfect batting strip, there was no looking back for the batsmen. If Gary Kirsten and Neil McKenzie did most of the spadework for South Africa's mammoth 354, then the final flourish was provided by Mark Boucher, whose 20-ball 51 ended the match as a contest.

With Maurice Odumbe suspended, Kenya depended on runs from Ravindu Shah, Kennedy Obuya and Steve Tikolo. But Shah and Tikolo departed within the first 10 overs and Kenya's thin hopes went with them. Shah fell in the fifth over, nicking an attempted heave to wicketkeeper Boucher.

Tikolo was involved in a brief contest with Nantie Hayward, who was pacy and hostile, and touched a high of 151 kmph. It was an all-too-brief battle, but the intensity was unmistakable.

Odoyo struck some telling blows. He top-edged Kallis over Boucher for a six in Kallis's first over, and then took 12 off his third, including a crashing cover-drive for four and an imperious pull over square leg for six. His spirited challenge ended when Justin Kemp trapped him lbw, and it was all rapidly downhill for Kenya after that.

Earlier, a record 207-run second-wicket partnership between Kirsten and McKenzie had laid the foundation for South Africa's total. Kirsten was coming back after a 12-day lay-off, but his batting showed no signs of rustiness. After Gibbs had plotted his own downfall yet again with an injudicious pull, Kirsten and McKenzie took full toll of Kenya's wafer-thin bowling attack. Kirsten survived a difficult caught-and-bowled chance off Martin Suji, but apart from that, looked in complete control. He became the first South African to reach 6000 runs in one-day internationals with a lofted boundary over wide mid-on off left-arm spinner Brijal Patel.

McKenzie started circumspectly, but soon got into his groove. He realised there were easy runs for the taking, and kept the score ticking over without taking too many risks. Kirsten departed in the 42nd over after he reached his 12th ODI hundred, when he chipped Martin Suji to Thomas Odoyo at midwicket for 126. Pollock contributed a quickfire 19 off 12 deliveries, but the real ammunition was provided by Boucher.

He entered in the 45th over and proceded to hit four sixes and two fours from just 21 balls as an incredible 104 runs came off the last eight overs. Thomas Odoyo bore the brunt of his onslaught, as his last two overs went for 34 runs. McKenzie played second fiddle perfectly to end on an undefeated 131. South Africa 1 Herschelle Gibbs, 2 Gary Kirsten, 3 Nicky Boje, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 Neil McKenzie, 6 Jonty Rhodes, 7 Justin Kemp, 8 Shaun Pollock (capt), 9 Mark Boucher (wk), 10 Charl Langeveldt, 11 Nantie Hayward. Kenya 1 Kennedy Obuya, 2 Ravindu Shah, 3 Steve Tikolo (capt), 4 Thomas Odoyo, 5 David Obuya (wk), 6 Hitesh Modi, 7 Collins Obuya, 8 Tony Suji, 9 Martin Suji, 10 Brijal Patel, 11 Jimmy Kamande.

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

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