Canada beat Kenya to win the battle of minnows

The 50-over game might have evolved in the last few years, but dropping catches still cost matches as was proved by Canada batsman Jimmy Hansra. Coming in to bat after Ruvindu Gunasekera was run out, he capitalised on the sitter Seren Waters dropped off his bat — even before he had opened his account — to score 70 crucial runs and help Canada beat Kenya by five wickets, chasing 198, in their Group A encounter at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Monday.

Needing another 151 runs and with seven wickets in hand, the match could have gone either way had the catch been taken. The win — Canada's second at the showpiece event after defeating Bangladesh in 2003 — takes their winning streak to four matches over Kenya in the last two years.

Although skipper Ashish Bagai played the perfect second fiddle in the 132- run fourth wicket partnership, he not only stayed unbeaten on 64, but also hit the winning boundary. Hansra displayed some clean hitting as the Kenyan bolwers failed to make an impact. By the time he was dismissed by Nehemiah Odhiambo, the match was in Canada's bag.

Chasing Kenya’s meagre total of 198, thanks to the four- wicket haul of Henry Osinde, Canada scored 199 for five to finally register a victory — having suffered three consecutive losses.

Canada were off to a flyer thanks to Rizwan Cheema (17 off 13 balls). He took the Kenyan bowlers on before Elijah Otieno got one past his willow that sent his middle stump for a walk. Earlier, Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande won the toss and elected to bat. But their innings started off horrendously with opener Morris Ouma (0) getting out off the second ball of the day.

Osinde put the ball in the corridor of uncertainty and Ouma had no option but to nick it to Harvir Baidwan at second slip.

Although the Kenyans expected Waters and Collins Obuya to stage a fight- back, Waters (2) struggled to find his feet and had his stumps rattled by a peach of a delivery from Osinde. David Obuya (2) too returned to the pavilion in a hurry, nicking Osinde to wicketkeeper Bagai.

Having lost three wickets in the first six overs, it was left to Collins and Steve Tikolo to stem the rot. Although they managed to play out the first powerplay, Baidwan got the better of Collins. Batting on 31, he went for a wild hoick and ended up getting bowled — an unnecessary shot when the team was looking to consolidate. Tikolo (12) didn't last long either as Cheema trapped him in front.

Though there looked to be an inside- edge, the Decision Review System doesn't include HotSpot technology and the benefit of doubt went to the bowler. Finally it was Tanmay Mishra — considered to be one of the most promising youngsters in the team — who took control of the Kenyan innings.

While he put on a 54- run partnership with Kamande (22) for the sixth wicket, it was his 57- run partnership for the seventh wicket with Thomas Odoyo that gave the Kenyan bowlers something to bowl at. While Odoyo (51) was the aggressor, Mishra kept it simple. Having restored some parity, Mishra (51) finally perished trying to up the ante in the 43rd over, hitting John Davison straight to Zubin Surkari at covers and that started the end for Kenya.

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