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Bangladesh v Kenya, 2nd ODI, Khulna

Bangladesh race to emphatic win

Martin Williamson

March 20, 2006

Bangladesh 162 for 1 (Javed Omar 64*, Aftab Ahmed 59*) beat Kenya 161 (Syed Rasel 3-28) by nine wickets
Scorecard

Syed Rasel gets the decision against Kennedy Otieno © AFP

Bangladesh raced to a crushing nine-wicket win over Kenya in a woefully one-sided ODI at Khulna, taking a 2-0 lead in the four-match series and suggesting that a whitewash is on the cards. For the second time Kenya were a distant second best, outbowled and outbatted by a Bangladesh side whose confidence is growing series by series.

The pitch looked good for batting, even though it kept low throughout, and in contrast to the first match, a large crowd delighted in Bangladesh's success. Their only complaint would be that they did not witness any kind of contest.

Once again, the game was done and dusted by the halfway point after Kenya had failed to capitalise on winning the toss. Without Steve Tikolo, their captain and key player, who was sidelined with a viral infection, they needed a good start from an experienced top order. As it was, Syed Rasel, who had put the skids under their innings at Bogra, grabbed two more early wickets to reduce them to 25 for 3. From then on, Bangladesh were always on top.

David Obuya and Hitesh Modi briefly checked the slide, adding 49 for the fourth wicket before Mohammad Rafique got the benefit of a tight decision to dismiss Obuya lbw. Modi followed almost immediately, completely beaten by Abdur Razzak, and Kenya were facing another hefty defeat at 82 for 5.

The impressive Tanmay Mishra, who is improving all the time, again frustrated the bowlers with a battling 33 that ended when beaten by the narrowest of margins after a good pick-up and throw by Mashrafe Mortaza. But while there were a few cameos, no-one was able to play the big innings that Kenya's innings simply had to have.

Bangladesh started with positive intent, and Kenya's bowlers were never able to exert any pressure. Their one success came when Peter Ongondo removed Shahriar Nafees, but it was never likely to affect the outcome as Javed Omar and Aftab Ahmed both opened up and clinically dissected weary bowlers. Both reached easy fifties as they added 93 for the second wicket, and the ease with which they overcame a modest target only served to underline the gulf between the sides which had been so evident at Bogra.

Martin Williamson is managing editor of Cricinfo