Kenya v Scotland, WCL final, Nairobi

Obuya powers Kenya to title glory

Cricinfo staff in Nairobi

February 7, 2007

Kenya 158 for 2 (Obuya 93) beat Scotland 155 (Onyango 3-43) by eight wickets
Scorecard

Lameck Onyango impressed with three wickets as Scotland slumped © ICC

For a tournament that had produced so much fine batting it was disappointing that it finished on a low-scoring note, but Kenya's attack proved too much for Scotland. Only some stubborn lower-order efforts lifted then beyond 150 but it was never likely to test Kenya.

Bar one nonsensical run-out, they attacked the lowly target of 156 with vigour led by the efforts of Obuya and Maurice Ouma. The pair batting sensibly before the tensions that still surround Kenya cricket made a brief reappearance.

Obuya cut Craig Wright to point and called no - but Ouma wanted a single, and wasn't stopping, leaving both stranded at one end as Neil McCallum sent in a direct throw. Obuya's response - hurling his bat several metres behind him, waving and shouting at the departing Ouma - said more than enough. Winning doesn't always heal everything.

But it was a blessing in disguise for Kenya as Obuya took out his anger at the careless wicket by attacking Scotland's wayward bowlers, smashing Wright over his head for four before pulling him over midwicket for a livid six.

Kenya's hundred was brought up in brilliant style, Obuya creaming Majid Haq inches past the window of the press box for his second six. It didn't matter where Scotland bowled, Obuya was in no mood to hang around while Ravi Shah, at the other end, played the perfect deadbatting foil. Although Obuya fell shortly before the end he had left a lasting impression on Kenya's march to the trophy.

Scotland had not left quite such a flamboyant memory after choosing to bat first on a firm, easy-paced pitch. They lost Haq to the first poor shot of the day, edging Thomas Odoyo to Steve Tikolo at second slip.

But Fraser Watts and Ryan Watson soon made the most of the excellent batting conditions with Watson looking in particularly good touch, crashing Odoyo down the ground and twice carting Lameck Onyango through cover.

It didn't last. After registering their fifty partnership Watson fell to a lazy shot, trying to hook Onyango. A skier was easily snaffled by Peter Ongondo and the gates were open. Watts fell to to Kenya's best fielder, Tanmay Mishra, stationed at short midwicket who was floored by a fierce pull shot but parried it up in the air, taking it expertly on the second attempt and Gavin Hamilton edged one behind to leave Scotland in a perilous state at 62 for 4.

It got worse, too, when Neil McCallum was farcically run out when, defending Varaiya, he hit it straight to Collins Oboya at silly point who threw down the stumps leaving him a foot short. It summed up Scotland's morning. It summed up Scotland's morning and the tail was left with plenty to do.

Some solid resistance from Craig Wright stopped a complete collapse while Ross Lyons made 23 off 47 balls. However, the Kenyan spinners kept the scoring rate down before some late blows from Paul Hoffmann. But it couldn't make the match into a contest and Kenya impressive romped home, to confirm their standing as the best of the rest, and possibly a match for one or two above them.

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Matches

Kenya v Scotland at Nairobi (Gym)

Players/Umpires

David Obuya

Lameck Onyango

Maurice Ouma

Craig Wright

Series/Tournaments

ICC World Cricket League Division One

Teams

Kenya

Scotland