SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, (Reuters):
DOUGLAS MARILLIER smashed his maiden one-century as Zimbabwe beat Kenya by five wickets to avenge their stunning World Cup loss in the Sharjah Cup yesterday.
Opener Marillier, who hit 100 to beat his previous best score of 59 he recorded against Pakistan on Thursday, prospered in a 130-run stand with Grant Flower to overhaul Kenya's modest 225 for six in 49 overs.
David Obuya (57), Steve Tikolo (37), Thomos Odoyo (46) and Hitesh Modi (27 not out) made useful contributions to build the Kenyan innings.
But Zimbabwe, given a solid start by Marillier and Craig Wishart who put on 56 runs for the opening wicket, went about their task with relative ease to erase the memories of their seven-wicket loss to Kenya in the Super Sixes of the World Cup.
Spinner Collins Obuya struck in quick succession to remove Wishart (15) and Gavin Rennie (seven), but Marillier and Flower remained unruffled and suffocated Kenya's hopes of making another breakthrough.
Flower made 59 off 70 balls with five fours before falling to Tony Suji and in the process he became the second Zimbabwe player after his brother Andy to cross 6,000 runs in one-day cricket.
When Grant Flower departed, Zimbabwe still needed 28 off 30 balls. Marillier duly completed his century, but there was hardly anyone present in the stadium to cheer his efforts.
He hit seven fours and two sixes before becoming Suji's second victim after being caught by Brijal Patel.
Andy Blignaut swiftly followed Marillier back to the pavilion for two but skipper Heath Streak (14 off six balls with one four and a six) and Sean Ervine (12) guided Zimbabwe to victory.
SCOREBOARD
Kenya innings
K. Obuya c Taibu b Streak 0
D. Obuya c Rennie b Price 57
B. Patel b Hondo 18
S. Tikolo c Marillier b Price 37
T. Odoyo c Marillier b Hondo 46
M. Odumbe c and b Rennie 17
H. Modi not out 27
P. Ongondo not out 10
Extras (lb1 w12) 13
Total (for six wkts, 50 overs) 225
Fall: 1-3 2-55 3-114 4-131 5-161
Bowling: Streak 10-3-28-1, Blignaut 4-0-27-0 (w-8), Hondo 8-0-37-2, Price 10-0-36-2, G.Flower 3-0-20-0, Marillier 6-0-30-0 (w-3), Ervine 4-0-26-0, Rennie 5-0-20-1 (w-1).
Zimbabwe innings
C. Wishart c Tikolo b C. Obuya 15
D. Marrilier c Patel b T.Suji 100
G. Rennie c and b C.Obuya 7
G. Flower c K. Obuya b T.Suji 59
S. Ervine not out 12
A. Blignaut c sub b Odoyo 2
H. Streak not out 14
Extras (lb8 nb2 w11) 21
Total (for five wkts, 49 overs) 230
Fall: 1-56 2-68 3-198 4-199 5-208
Bowling: M. Suji 10-1-27-0, Odoyo 9-2-37-1 (w-3), Ongondo 1-0-6-0 (w-1), C. Obuya 10-0-31-2 (nb-1 w-2), M. Odumbe 10-1-50-0 (w-1), Tikolo 6-0-41-0 (w-3), T. Suji 3-0-30-2 (nb-1 w-1).
Result: Zimbabwe won by five wickets.
