Drakes Bamboozles Kenya

Vasbert Drakes snared five wickets and Chris Gayle stroked a century today asWest Indies crushed Kenya by 142 runs in a lopsided World Cup Pool B match at the De Beers DiamondOval in Kimberley.

The match emphasized just how much Kenya will be out of their depth in the Super Six phase of the tournament, and howmuch the tournament will miss the presence of the West Indies after a rain-affected match against Bangladesh robbed them ofan almost certain four points.

The West Indies ground their way to a modest total of 246 for seven wickets, with only Gayle's 119 off 151 ballsenlivening the innings on a slow and low pitch which was well exploited by the Kenyan bowlers.

Drakes took a career best five for 33 off 10 overs as the Kenyans were skittled for 104.

For Kenya, only Peter Ongondo showed any kind of resistance scoring 24 at No. 9. Collins Obuya and Martin Suji scored 13 apiece, whileskipper Steve Tikolo weighed in with 12.

For the rest, it was no contest against the West Indies pace, and no contest as a spectacle, either.

Earlier, Gayle opened with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and was unusually subdued while Chanderpaul scored his 66 off 72balls. Gayle lifted the run rate after reaching his hundred with a single until he hit the ball straight to Joseph Angaraoff leg-spinner Collins Obuya.

Brian Lara's frustrating innings of just 10 off 30 balls typified the problems the West Indian batsmen appeared to havewith the pitch, as he was scarcely able to get the ball off the square. Instead, he tried to run the ball fine past the keeperwithout much success, and fell trying to hit his way out of trouble.

Gayle took 143 balls to reach his century, and then smashed his remaining 19 runs off just eight balls, includinga massive six right out of the ground.

After his departure, the rest of the West Indian batsmen struggled to push the scoring rate up, losing Wavell Hinds inthe final over, off which they scored just five runs.

The pick of the Kenyan bowlers were Angara with two for 53 from seven overs, and Maurice Odumbe, the hero of the win overBangladesh, with two for 62 off 10.

However, it was the economy of Suji, who took one for 38 in his 10 overs, and captain Tikolo, who took one for 28 ineight, which kept the West Indies total within the bounds of attainability for the Kenyans.

The match was good practice for Kenya, which was through to the Super Six stage after its surprise victory over SriLanka, and the gift of four points from New Zealand's forfeit of the match between the two in Nairobi, Kenya.

AP