Vintage Odumbe helps Kenya outwit Bangla, enter Sixes
Saturday, March 1 2003 22:07 Hrs (IST)

Johannesburg: Veteran all-rounder Maurice Odumbe turned in a vintage performance with both bat and ball to lead little Kenya into the Super Sixes of the World Cup on Saturday with a 32 run victory over hapless Bangladesh.

After top-scoring with 52 in a total of 217 for seven in 50 overs, he then took four for 38 to help his side of part-timers into the second stage while Bangladesh was left to reflect on a miserable record of 29 defeats in its last 31 One-dayers after being bowled out for 185 off 47.2 overs.

After fellow veteran Martin Suji had removed both openers Al Sahariar and Mohammad Ashraful cheaply, Odumbe set to work delighting the Wanderers crowd with his off- spinners taking out Tushar Imran whose loose shot was brilliantly caught by substitute fielder Joseph Angara.

Imran had made a patient 48 from 81 balls and was looking to anchor his team to a rare victory. Odumbe, who was Kenyan skipper at the 1996 World Cup, also removed Alok Kapali, caught behind by Kennedy Otieno for 18 and also Sanwar Hossein, caught in the deep by Martin Suji for 16 just after he had put on 40 for the sixth wicket with former captain Akram Khan.

With the run rate rising all the time, Odumbe then had Khaled Mahmud stumped for three before Akram, running out of partners, was caught by Angara at the third attempt for 44 off skipper Steve Tikolo who claimed the last three wickets to fall.

Before that leg spinner Collins Obuya, whose five wickets destroyed Sri Lanka in the shock win on Monday, had skipper Khaled Mashud caught in the slips by Ravindu Shah for 14.

Saturday's win followed Kenya’s triumph over Sri Lanka and an earlier win over Canada while its points total was also boosted by New Zealand refusing to play in the Kenyan capital thereby forfeiting the four points.

Earlier the 33-year-old Odumbe had hit an unbeaten 52 off 46 balls to help Kenya post a respectable total after winning the toss and choosing to bat. It had made slow progress, making a meagre 94 off the first 25 overs and 116 for four after 33 overs when Odumbe came to the crease and he was helped in his late, big-hitting efforts by Collins Obuya who hammered a valuable 22 off 21 balls including the innings' only six.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Odumbe’s half-ton rescues Kenyan WC dream, 217 for 7