Cricket Kenya

Before the 2003 World Cup, Kenya were considered a team that only made up the numbers. But by the end of the tournament, they proved everyone wrong by going where no associate team had ever gone before – to the semifinals of the World Cup. They played, enjoyed, entertained and won a million hearts before finally losing to India in the semi-finals.

Kenya’s World Cup didn’t have the greatest of starts as they crashed to a 10 wicket defeat against South Africa. They then beat fellow associates Canada in a close contest and had another 2 points in the bag as New Zealand refused to play their match at Nairobi. Kenya knew that if they beat Bangladesh and they could pull a trick out of the bag and beat either Sri Lanka or West Indies, they had a great chance to qualify for the Super Six stage.

Led by an entertaining 60 by Kennedy Otieno, Kenya managed 213 against the Lankans. Collins Obuya spun a web around the Lankan batsmen and they collapsed for 157 sending the home fans in a frenzy. Kenya then beat Bangladesh and booked their place in the Super Sixes. They were living a dream!

Kenya carried 4 points to the second round as Sri Lanka and New Zealand had also qualified for the Super Sixes. After a loss to India, they managed to beat Zimbabwe. This meant that they had 6 points – good enough to win them a berth in the semifinals despite a loss to Australia. If you had offered Kenya a Super Six place at the start of the Cup, they would have grabbed it with both hands but they now found themselves in the semifinals along with the top three teams in the world. The dream just got better!

Kenya’s run was halted in the semifinals by a Sourav Ganguly century but the African nation went out with their heads held high and with many a heart won. A world cup dream was lived!

Tags: Cricket, Cricket World Cup, Greatest Moments, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Kenya