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February 21, 2011

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Kiwis crush hapless Kenya

NEW Zealand thumped Kenya by 10 wickets in a lopsided Group A match of the World Cup in Chennai, India, yesterday that appears to justify bids to trim the 2015 edition of the showpiece event by leaving out the whipping boys.

The sparse crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium witnessed a total mismatch as New Zealand unleashed its pace trio of Tim Southee (3-13), Hamish Bennett (4-16) and Jacob Oram (3-2) to bundle out Kenya for a meager 69 in 23.5 overs and returned to overwhelm the target in eight overs.

There was not much room for batting practice chasing a 70-run victory target but openers Martin Guptill (39) and Brendon McCullum (26) stroked some easy boundaries before completing the chase.

The outcome strengthens the International Cricket Council's bid for a 10-team World Cup in 2015, accommodating the weaker teams in the Twenty20 World Cup instead.

"I don't think we expected it to be that easy," New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori told reporters after a perfect start to the tournament suggested the team was determined to put behind a poor build-up that included a whitewash against Bangladesh.

"To bowl well and allow the batsmen such a small chase is always pleasing. It was a fantastic efforts by the bowlers."

Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande won the toss and opted to bat first before a horror story unfolded in front of his eyes.

Two days before he turns 24, Bennett ran through the top order as Kenya's top half was back in the hut even before the team total had reached the 50-run mark.

Openers Alex Obanda (6) and Seren Waters (16) began cautiously. Southee trapped Obanda in the seventh over before Bennett suddenly took fancy to beating the blade and hitting the pad of the flummoxed Kenyan batsmen, claiming three of his four victims leg before wicket.

Only three Kenyan batsmen - Waters, Collins Obuya (14) and Rakep Patel (15 not out) - managed double digit scores as Kenya was bundled out for the lowest score recorded at the Chidambaram Stadium. It was also the fifth lowest total in one-day internationals.

"We were nervous today but the New Zealand bowlers really bowled well," Kamande said.





 

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