ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 - An African safari entrenched in the mind – Opinion
When one looks back at the Kenyan Cricket Team and how they had plummeted to ground zero in 2011, it is hard to believe that it was Kenya which managed to reach the semi-finals of the 2003 Cricket World Cup in Africa. The minnows managed to make headlines
everywhere and were in contention for Test Status straight after their biggest feat in history.
It all began in a typical African setting. Prior to this tournament, Kenya was the strongest associate side in their circuit. An array of top quality players had impressed time and again in domestic competitions as well as in global tournaments. Kenya was
held in high regard as an unpredictable, yet competitive side. They rolled over a powerful http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 and Zimbabwe,
and it was plausible to assume that they were expected to do quite well seven years later.
Just how well, was what the world was unsure off. Kenya had a terrible start against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 at Potchefstroom, which meant that they were always going to be considered as minnows. Yet a slice of luck came their way after New Zealand’s decision to not
play them in Nairobi due to security reasons, helped them gain two points. That episode changed the script when something unique followed after a good win over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Canada-c748 at Cape Town. It was in Kenya’s fourth game against Sri Lanka on home soil that history was
rewritten.
Sri Lanka resorted to touring Kenya and in the end managed to restrict the minnows to 210. A score of 200 plus at least gave Kenya a chance and when Sri Lanka were reduced to 5 for 105 in the 28th over, they were up against it. A heroic effort
by leg-spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 unfolded to a dismal 157, handing
Kenya their first win against a Test playing nation in the tournament. Nairobi’s skyline was littered with scenes of jubilation amid African drums being heard from a distance.
Then came the all important challenge of translating that win into consistency. To prove to the world that the Sri Lanka game was not a hoax, Kenya went onto beat Bangladesh, another Test side, quite convincingly at Johannesburg. That meant that Kenya had
three points in the bag and a net run rate that was enough to qualify for the Super Six stage. In a matter of weeks, Kenya became the first associate nation to reach the knock out stage of the Cricket World Cup.
What followed were a series of defeats but the manner in which Kenya competed was commendable. Their game against India at Newlands in Cape Town for example, highlighted the intensity of the cricket that was played. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752 managed to score a respectable 225
for 6 on a seaming wicket and India were on their way to being defeated, only to be saved by Captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sourav-Chandidas-Ganguly-c90746. India snuck through the back door with just a couple of overs left. That performance inspired Kenya to the point of upsetting Zimbabwe in a
must win encounter at Bloemfontein. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 was not only rolled over, they were distraught. Kenya completed a thumping win in 26 overs after bowling out their African brethren for just 133, which gave them a semi final spot. What else could one ask for?
For an associate member side to be in a semi-final was perhaps, too overwhelming. Kenya eventually folded to 179 and gave http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 plenty to think about in some stages of the game. The crashed out, only to be greeted with scenes of joy from their countrymen
and talks about being granted Test status by the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625. The African safari which started from humble beginnings had become a part of cricket folklore.
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