Zimbabwe beat Kenya by 6 wickets to seal series

Harare:

Zimbabwe beat Kenya by six wickets on Saturday to seal the five-match one-day series with a game to go.

Forster Mutizwa top-scored with 79 as Zimbabwe reached 271-4 with two overs to spare after Kenya had totaled 270-8.

After Zimbabwe lost in-form opener Hamilton Masakadza for 23, Mutizwa batted sensibly to hit seven fours in 102 balls.

"Today, Forster got his chance and grabbed it with two hands," Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak said. "It's a big positive. Obviously, we still got other guys who haven't played and we would want to give them a chance in tomorrow's game."

Mutizwa and Mark Vermeulen (56) put on 109 off 112 balls for the second wicket in a partnership full of quick running between the wicket and polished stroke play, getting the bulk of their runs through the point and cover area.

Vermeulen, who faced 58 balls and hit six fours and a six, was out caught by wicketkeeper David Obuya off medium-pace bowler Nehemiah Odhiambo.

Mutizwa's innings ended when he was trapped leg before by Lameck Onyango in the 35th over.

But Brendan Taylor, who ended 59 not out from 59 balls, and Stuart Matsikenyeri (37) made sure Zimbabwe did not collapse with a 67-run fourth-wicket stand.

Matsikenyeri was bowled by Odhiambo in the 46th over, but Taylor and Malcolm Waller took the hosts home.

Earlier, Zimbabwe captain and offspinner Prosper Utseya was Zimbabwe's best bowler with 4-46.

Kenya captain Maurice Ouma top-scored for Kenya with 58. He blasted four fours in 58 balls. Opener David Obuya added 49.

"The team has improved in all departments, but we just can't finish off," Kenya coach Eldine Baptiste said. "That's the difference between the two sides."