Updated at: 1255 PST, Sunday, March 20, 2011
KOLKATA: Craig Ervine and Vusimuzi Sibanda hit brisk half-centuries as Zimbabwe recovered from early setbacks to post a challenging 308-6 against Kenya in their last World Cup match on Sunday.Zimbabwe were struggling at 36-2 after electing to bat at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, but Sibanda (61) steadied the innings with a 110-run stand for the third wicket with Tatenda Taibu (53).Ervine and skipper Elton Chigumbura (38) then added 105 for the fifth wicket as Zimbabwe crossed the 300-mark for the first time in the tournament.Zimbabwe plundered 104 runs in the last 10 overs, with Prosper Utseya (19 not out) smashing three fours and a six in the final over bowled by seamer Elijah Otieno.Both the African nations are out of contention for a place in the quarter-finals, with Zimbabwe having earned two points and Kenya none after five matches before this game.Left-handed Ervine, who cracked one six and nine fours in his 54-ball knock, survived a stumping chance off spinner James Ngoche as stand-in wicket-keeper Rakep Patel failed to collect the ball.Patel kept wicket for a brief spell in place of regular wicket-keeper David Obuya, who suffered an injury while trying to stop a wide delivery.Veteran all-rounder Tikolo, making his last World Cup appearance, led Kenya in the absence of Jimmy Kamande, who was ruled out of the match due to a knee injury.Sibanda hit one six and seven fours in his 57-ball knock before being run out following a mix-up with Taibu.hit seven fours before being trapped leg-before by Ngoche.
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