Kenya beat Zimbabwe by 20 runs to trail 2-1

Harare:

Alex Obanda and David Obuya each scored half-centuries on Thursday to put on a 119-run opening stand and lead Kenya to a 20-run win over Zimbabwe in a limited-overs international.

Kenya now trails 2-1 in the five-match series after Obanda top-scored with 65 and Obuya hit 56. Teammate Collins Obuya also made 52 to boost his team to 266-9 at the Harare Sports Club.

Kenya medium-pacer Nehemiah Odhiambo then took 4-61 to help dismiss Zimbabwe for 246 on the second last ball of its innings. Brendan Taylor made 92 off 109 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes.

Zimbabwe batsman Sean Williams was unable to bat after picking up an injury while warming up.

"We are happy to win but it's still a long way to go," Kenya captain Maurice Ouma said. "There is still a lot of hard work to be done, but at least we've given ourselves a chance (of winning the series)."

Obanda and Obuya in particular savaged Zimbabwe opening bowlers Elton Chigumbura and Kyle Jarvis, picking off any half-volleys with style and also plundering runs off short-pitched deliveries.

With the Kenyans looking on course for a big total, part-time Zimbabwe seamer Hamilton Masakadza claimed both openers.

Obanda hit eight boundaries and three sixes in 73 balls, while Obuya smashed seven fours from 65 balls.

Masakadza was the pick of the host's bowlers with 22-2 from six overs. Pace bowler Kyle Jarvis and veteran offspinner Ray Price also took two wickets apiece.

Apart from Taylor, Stuart Matsikenyeri made runs for Zimbabwe. He hit 58 off 85 balls with three fours.

Zimbabwe's chase was shaky, slumping to 62-3 before a fourth-wicket stand of 142 between Taylor and Matsikenyeri.

Taylor missed out on a maiden one-day century after being bowled by spinner Hiren Varaiya, who also bowled Matsikenyeri.

"That was the key partnership," Taylor said. "I let the team down. It was a poorly executed shot. Stuart got a good ball, it happens in cricket."