Leg-spinner Collins Obuya, Kenya's hero against Sri Lanka in their shock World Cup Group B win at Nairobi Gymkhana on Monday, proved there is life for the Africans beyond their stalwart generation.
Six of the side that took part in Kenya's other great upset triumph, a 73-run World Cup win over the West Indies at Pune, India, in 1996, were playing for Kenya in Monday's giant-killing act.
But Obuya, whose five for 24 in 10 overs bowled out Sri Lanka for 157 to set up a brilliant 53-run victory in Nairobi, showed that there was more to Kenyan cricket than a bunch of aging players.
Obuya's return was the ninth best in the 28-year history of the World Cup.
Obuya, 21, made his international debut against the West Indies in Nairobi in 2001 but nothing in that performance suggested he would one day outbowl Sri Lankan-spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan who claimed four for 28.
Instead it was Obuya's hard-hitting batting that caught the eye that day, his 27 runs coming off just 31 balls including four boundaries.
Monday's match was the Nairobi-born spinner's 19th one-day international and his previous best bowling figures were 2-46 against Canada.
RSS