Canada wins the battle of minnows

Jimmy Hansra hit a career-best 74 as Canada notched up their second win in the World Cup history after defeating Kenya by five wickets in a group A clash at Feroze Shah Kotla stadium on Monday.

- Scorecard

Canada produced a disciplined all-round performance as fast bowler Henry Osinde took four wickets and Hansra and skipper Ashish Bagai (64 not out) hit twin half-centuries to secure a facile win with 27 balls to spare.

Canada bowled out Kenya for a modest 198, riding on Osinde's brilliant first spell where he returned the figures of 7-2-16-3.

The Canadians then knocked off the target in 45.3 overs and avenged their previous two losses against Kenya in the World Cup.

It was Canada's second only win in World Cup, the first being their 60-run victory over Bangladesh in the 2003 edition in South Africa.

The 26-year-old Hansra (70), who was dropped on zero, notched up his maiden half-century, and added 132 runs for the fourth wicket with Bagai as Canada recovered from a shaky start to earn their first points in the mega event.

Earlier, electing to bat, Kenya were reduced to 21 for three in seven overs but middle order batsman Tanmay Mishra (51) and Thomas Odoyo (51) hit twin half-centuries to take the African team close to the 200-mark.

Chasing 199, Opener Rizwan Cheema tried to give Canada a blazing start, hitting a couple of fours and a six but over-aggression cost him his wicket. Looking for another big hit he was cleaned up by Elijah Otieno in the fourth over.

Few overs later, skipper Jimmy Kamade produced a superb pick and throw fielding to sent first down Zubin Surkari back to the pavillion while wicketkeeper got rid off other opener Ruvindu Gunasekera with a brilliant stumping in his second attempt as Canada slipped to 48 for three in 11 overs.

It could have been four down had Seren Waters held on to a sitter at mid-on from Hansra but it was not to be and the right-handed batsman added insult to injury by sending James Ngoche for a couple of fours in the next four balls.

Skipper Bagai also made his intent clear with a sweetly-timed straight drive for a four but with Keyan bowlers Nehemiah Odhiambo and Jimmy Kamande bowling in tendum, runs were difficult to come by. But some sloppy fielding by Kenyan fielders helped Canada reach 101/3 at half-way mark.

Hansra and Bagai then forged a match-winning 132-run stand to take Canada close to victory. Bagai reached his fifty in 83 balls with the help of five fours. Odhiambo picked up two late wickets in Hansra and Tyson Gordon (3) but it was too late by then.

Earlier, Mishra (51) starred in two half-century stands with Jimmy Kamade (22) and Odoyo (51) to resurrect the Kenyan innings after being precariously placed at 57 for five in 15 overs.

Electing to bat, Kenya were reduced to 21 for three inside seven overs with Osinde dismissing -- Maurice Ouma (0), Seren Waters (2) and David Obuya (2).

At 21 for three, 29-year-old Collins Obuya showed some aggression as smashed a four and six off young left-arm spinner Parth Desai as Kenya reached 37 in first 10 overs.

But a rash shot saw Collins trudge back as a length ball from Harvir Baidwan crashed onto his stumps.

Mishra was then joined by Steve Tikolo (12) who started off with a boundary on a full toss delivery.

The 39-year-old though did not stay long as he was struck on the pads by a Rizwan Cheema delivery. Tikolo challenged the on-field umpire's decision but replays showed that the ball would have hit the stumps.

At 57 for five, Mishra and skipper Jimmy Kamande tried to steady the rocking boat before Balaji Rao induced an edge from the skipper to end his innings.

However, Mishra kept the scoreboard ticking and was engaged in a 57-run partnership with Odoyo as they took the score to 166.

He was dismissed just after reaching his fifty by John Davison, who had him caught at mid-off.

While Mishra played the role of an anchor to perfection, it was Odoyo's innings was more audacious in nature as he took Kenya close to the 200-run mark. He hit five fours and one six during his 62-ball innings.

Osinde then returned and cleaned up Nehemiah Odhiambo (4) in the last over of his second spell to complete a four-wicket haul.

Odoyo was the last man to be dismissed by a perfect yorker from Baidwan who is now Canada's leading wicket-taker in the tournament with nine victims.

While Baidwan, Rizwan Cheema took a couple of wickets apiece, Balaji and Davison had to be content with a wicket each.