Zimbabwe finished their 2011 World Cup campaign with a comprehensive 161-run win over Kenya at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The match was also Kenyan veteran Steve Tikolo’s farewell match, he managed just 10 runs.
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first. Kenya removed both the openers in the first power play itself with Regis Chakabva (9) and Brendon Taylor (26) back in the hut with just 36 runs on the board. However, Kenya could not capitalize on the start and left the African nation off the hook.
Tatenda Taibu and Vusi Sibanda added 110 runs for the third wicket to bring Zimbabwe back into the game. Taibu scored 53 runs from 74 balls with seven fours while Sibanda scored a quick 57-ball 61 runs that included seven fours and a six. Craig Ervine and Elton Chigumbura raised 105 runs as Zimbabwe accelerated in the slog overs.
Ervine top-scored for Zimbabwe with 66 runs that came from just 54 balls with nine fours and a six while Chigumbura scored 38 runs from 41 balls that included three fours and two sixes. Zimbabwe finished on 308/6 from their allotted 50 overs. Elijah Otieno took 61/2 in his quota of ten overs.
Kenya lost David Obuya (0) in the first over of their innings and never recovered from early setback. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals and their top five batsmen were back in the pavilion with just 44 runs on the board. Nehemiah Odhiambo top scored for them with an unbeaten 44 runs from 47 balls with five fours. The highest partnership of the innings was between Thomas Odoyo (14) and Rakep Patel (24) who added 29 runs for the sixth wicket.
For Zimbabwe, Ray Price (2/20), Greg Lamb (2/21) and Graeme Cremer (2/28) took two wickets apiece as Kenya were shot out for 147 runs in 36 overs. Craig Ervine was declared the man of the match for his 54-ball 66 runs.