Otieno leads Kenya to sensational victory

Kennedy Otieno, who played Southern Electric Premier League cricket for BAT Sports three summers ago, played a star role as Kenya pulled off the shock of the World Cup by beating Sri Lanka by 53 runs at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club on Monday 24 February 2003.

Playing his 52nd One Day International, Otieno plundered two sixes and eight fours in a top score of 60 as Kenya reached a modest 210-9 off 50 overs.

Keeping wicket, he later clung on to two catches behind the stumps, snaring Aravinda De Silva (41) and Kumar Sangakkara (5) as Sri Lanka were sensationally bowled out for 157.

Otieno appeared to be heading for the Man of the Match award, but was pipped by his younger leg-spinning brother Collins Obuya, whose spell of 5-24 wrecked the Sri Lankan middle-order.

The 21-year old spinner uses his father's family name, Obuya, instead of Otieno.

It is the second time that the ex-BAT man has helped Kenya to a World Cup shock.

He also played in the team which shocked the West Indies in India in 1996.

The ever-smiling Otieno, who was hugely popular during his three-month stay at the BAT Sports club in 2000, was elated at his side's victory.

"To be involved in one World Cup shock (seven years ago) is one thing; to play in another is quite amazing," he beamed.

"We have some pretty talented cricketers in Kenya and our experience shone through by the way we defended 210-9 against what is - let's face it - a tremendously powerful Sri Lankan batting line up.

"The scenes in our dressing room after the match were truly amazing.

"Everyone was going mad inside - and the crowd delirious outside"

Otieno had not got off the mark before he survived a confident leg-before shot from Chaminda Vaas, but he went on to whip one incredible six over backward cover and loft another over deep mid-on before holing out in the deep for a World Cup best 60.

Kenyan skipper, Steve Tikolo said good bowling backed up by excellent fielding was the cornerstone of the victory.

"I was always confident of doing well in spite of the fact that I thought we were about 40 runs short."

Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya attributed his side's loss to Kenya down to a disappointing batting performance. He said it was a gettable total but no one in the side took responsibility to make sure that Sri Lanka reached it.

"I'm worried about the middle-order batting," he said. "This was our best opportunity to win before our next big match.

" We didn't play well, and this puts us under pressure to beat the West Indies in Cape Town. That match, and the one against South Africa, will be a big test of our character."