Top 5 upsets in ODI history
Barely a week ago, an inspired group of eleven under the unassuming leadership of the scarcely known Elton Chigumbura handed the mighty Australians a severe jolt in their preparations for the 2015 World Cup as they completed a memorable victory against the Baggy Greens. This victory may not be as historically profound as the one in 1983 when Duncan Fletcher, the present India coach, motivated a band of Zimbabwean debutants to a 3-wicket win in the country’s very first One Day International - their only other victory against Australia in ODIs, but a triumph after 31 years of toil is indeed special. More so for off-spinner Prosper Utseya, who had achieved a personal milestone by completing a hat-trick in the previous match before pairing up here with the skipper to weave an unperturbed 55-run partnership to see his team through.While this match certainly had all the ingredients to go down in the annals of history as one the greatest upsets ever, let us have a look at five other matches that belied expectations and defied logic, courtesy dedicated performances by whom they call ‘minnows’.
#5 Kenya defeated West Indies by 73 runs, World Cup 1996
The question over Kenya versus West Indies match in Pune back in 1996 was a no-brainer. Kenya stood no chance against a line-up that boasted of Sherwin Campbell, Richie Richardson, Brian Lara, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Ian Bishop. Yet the unexpected did happen, and Kenya went on to defeat their invincible opponents by a clean 73 runs.
Maurice Odumbe, the Kenyan skipper who would orchestrate a stunning victory over India two years hence, smashing the Indian spinners out of sight at Gwalior, failed with the bat as Kenya yielded to the incisive spells of the Caribbean pacers. 37 extras were conceded as Kenya managed to put 166 on the board before the last man edged it to the ‘keeper.
Martin Suji and Rajab Ali then feasted on the openers as West Indies found themselves tottering at 35/4 after the dismissal of Keith Arthurton. The Kenya skipper unleashed his choking off-spin, thereby mounting the pressure and forcing mistakes.
West Indies never really recovered as they bundled out for 93 with only Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Roger Harper managing double figures. Odumbe was declared the deserving Man-of-the-Match for his efforts of 10-3-15-3.