Zimbabwe see off meek Kenya

Zimbabwe 308-6 Kenya 147 (Zimbabwe win by 161 runs)

Zimbabwe signed out of the 2011 World Cup with their second win of the tournament, beating Kenya by 161 runs in the dead-rubber Group A tie at Kolkata today.

Batting first, Zimbabwe amassed 308 thanks to half-centuries from Vusi Sibanda (61), Tatenda Taibu (53) and Craig Ervine (66), as the trio - with help from skipper Elton Chigumbura (38) - also notched two century partnerships between them.

Kenya offered little resistence as spin claimed seven wickets - Ray Price, Greg Lamb and Graeme Cremer picking up a brace each - and only a late cameo of 44 not out from Nehemiah Odhiambo helped Kenya survive until the 36th over.

Having won the toss, Zimbabwe edged their way to 55 in 15 overs after losing openers Regis Chakabva (nine) and Brendan Taylor (26).

Taibu was slower off the blocks than partner Sibanda but both led Zimbabwe's revival in solid fashion to put on 110 for the third wicket.

Captain Steve Tikolo - playing his last one-day international - went for 15 in his third over as Sibanda reached 50 with a six, but a horrible mix-up had him run out while Taibu too departed shortly after his 50.

Ervine kept the tempo going - finishing with nine boundaries and a six - as he and Chigumbura racked up 50 during the batting powerplay in a fifth-wicket stand worth 105.

In reply, Kenya's top order failed once again as brothers David and Collins Obuya were dismissed inside four overs.

Tikolo's final international innings ended meekly, out for just 10, as wickets fell in heaps with Prosper Utseya removing Tanmay Mishra and opener Alex Obanda falling to Price for 23.

A 29-run stand between Thomas Odoyo (14) and Rakep Patel (24) - both falling to Lamb - and Odhiambo's late salvo brought Kenya some respite.

But they only served to delay the inevitable as Peter Ongondo (six) and James Ngoche (nine) were dismissed by Cremer around Elijah Otieno's (five) run-out.