Cricket: Klusener stays on the march

Kenya 152 South Africa 153-3 SA win by seven wickets

SOUTH AFRICA became the first team to qualify for the Super Six stage with a seven-wicket win over an outclassed Kenya here yesterday.

The fast-medium pace of Lance Klusener ensured Hansie Cronje's side maintained their 100 per cent record in Group A with the first five-wicket haul of the tournament that took him to the top of the wicket-taking table with 12. The all-rounder has also scored the little matter of 112 runs in three innings without being dismissed.

The first World Cup game on mainland Europe took place at the picturesque, tree-lined VRA ground, located in the suburbs of the Dutch city of Amsterdam - very much akin to Derbyshire's outground of Queen's Park in Chesterfield - and produced a wicket which initially seemed full of runs.

After the first 15 overs there was the scent of a possible shock in the air as Kenya were 66 without loss, with Kennedy Otieno and Ravindu Shah playing with a composed authority before a sell-out crowd of 3,500. But once Otieno was trapped leg-before by Steve Elworthy, Kenya collapsed and were bowled out for 152 off 44.3 overs.

Allan Donald suffered the indignity of being driven back over his head by Shah but when the batsman had reached 50 the fast bowler gained revenge, having him caught behind by Mark Boucher.

It was then time for Klusener to take charge of affairs by removing Steve Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo in successive balls. He then caught and bowled Alpesh Vadher soon afterwards to reduce Kenya to 107 for 7 and he mopped up the tail, bowling Mohammad Sheikh and Joseph Angara to finish with 5 for 21.

Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs put on 55 in double quick time before Gibbs was leg-before to Odoyo.

Boucher departed quickly and Kirsten was bowled by Maurice Odumbe for 27, but Jacques Kallis and Daryll Cullinan steered South Africa home with nine overs to spare.