Fans cheered wildly in the capital Nairobi after the East Africans' third win in the tournament over one of the 10 Test nations. Kenya defeated Bangladesh and 1996 champions Sri Lanka before beating Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein by seven wickets.

``It's an unbelievable feat, we never expected this fantastic performance,'' said Sanjay Harkhani at the Nairobi Gymkhana, a popular cricket club. ``We are now praying that New Zealand do not qualify.''

Kenya took 10 points into the Super Six round, four of them awarded after New Zealand refused to travel to Nairobi for security reasons.

They will play India in Durban in March 20 while defending champions Australia will meet either New Zealand or Sri Lanka in the first semifinal in Port Elizabeth two days earlier.

Yesterday's match was memorable for Kenya's win over a dispirited Zimbabwe side if not for the standard of cricket.

Zimbabwe failed to come to terms with a desperately slow pitch, trying and failing to force the pace against accurate but hardly threatening bowling. Only Andy Flower showed the necessary skill and determination and, after his dismissal for 63, Zimbabwe crumbled to an inadequate 133 all out.

MORE PROFESSIONAL
Adopting an altogether more professional approach, Kenya cruised to an ultimately comfortable victory with 24 overs to spare, thanks to an unbeaten partnership of 73 between Thomas Odoyo (43) and former captain Maurice Odumbe (38).

The pair laid the foundations with a sensible, restrained approach then piled into the Zimbabwe bowling during the final overs with a series of thumping boundaries.

``If there was a bad ball to hit we were going to hit it,'' said Odumbe. ``There are a lot of critics out there saying we are not supposed to be in the Super Sixes.

``But today I'm sure we proved with our performance that from now on we are just going to play sound and good cricket. People are saying we are not supposed to be in the finals either, but who knows?

``It's a great feeling and I am happy and I'm sure people back home are happy for us as well.''

Kenya now meet Australia in their final Super Six match with a place in the semis assured. They are also sure to press their claims for admission to the Test-playing circuit.

A congratulatory telegram from President Mwai Kibaki to the team said the win was a reflection of Kenya's determination to attain full Test status.

Bangladesh became the 10th Test playing nation after beating Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup but they have since failed to win either a Test or a one-day international.

Kenya's performances at the 2003 tournament have been a credit to their country but their abilities were put in perspective when they were thrashed by former champions West Indies by 142 runs in the first round.

Zimbabwe, with only two players of genuine international class in Flower and captain Heath Streak, have clearly been affected by political problems at home which persuaded Flower and fast bowler Henry Olonga to wear black armbands in the first round.

Flower, who has averaged more than 50 in Test cricket, the hallmark of a great batsman, will retire from international cricket after the tournament.

While Kenya rejoice before the Australia match which will have no bearing on the positions, New Zealand and Sri Lanka will attempt to seize the remaining semifinal place.

A win over India at Centurion tomorrow will be enough to give New Zealand another crack at Australia while Sri Lanka must hope that New Zealand lose and then beat Zimbabwe themselves.

Sponsor-less Kenya cash in
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, (Reuters) - Kenya came to the World Cup without a major team sponsor but made sure of leaving with at least $500 000 after reaching the semifinals yesterday.

Former captain Maurice Odumbe, who hit the winning runs for a shock seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe yesterday, was not aware of those figures.

Told that each team to reach the semifinals won $400 000, he responded: ``Is that it?

``Our manager is currently doing the calculations now. We will come to know about that later.

``We're just thinking about the games to come.''

Kenya's individual match earnings have also netted them $50 000 dollars in the first round, for four wins and two losses.

They have already made another $60 000 in two Super Six matches, with one game against world champions Australia still to come. Defeat in that match would add another $20 000.

The World Cup winners will earn $2 million as well as match winnings, with $800 000 for the runners-up.

Kenya's players are professionals but reaching the Super Sixes will assure them of their biggest payday ever.

Their real ambition, however, is to win Test status to go with their one-day status.

They have beaten Test sides Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in the tournament to date.

Kenya’s semifinal success stuns Sri Lanka
By Marcus Prior
EAST LONDON, South Africa, (Reuters) - Kenya's success in beating Zimbabwe to reach the World Cup semifinals yesterday left Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore and his squad stunned.

Kenya's seven-wicket win at Bloemfontein guaranteed the East Africans a place in the last four while 1996 champions Sri Lanka now need New Zealand to lose their final game to have a chance of staying in the tournament.

``I'm really low right now -- very, very down,'' Whatmore told Reuters.

``I've just watched the end of the game here and all credit to Kenya. They deserve it. Their leg-spinner Collins Obuya really looks as though he's turned the corner.

``The only player I've spoken to is (captain) Sanath (Jayasuriya). He's really down about the whole thing too.''

New Zealand can clinch the final semifinal berth by beating India, who have already qualified with Australia and Kenya, at Centurion tomorrow.

If India win, Sri Lanka can sneak through by winning their final Super Six game against Zimbabwe in East London on Saturday.

Whatmore said the Sri Lankans would be keeping an eye on events at Centurion and hoped India would be inspired by a 5-2 one-day series defeat in New Zealand just before the World Cup.

``I'm sure India will be keen to prove a point,'' he said.

``We'll certainly be watching the game very closely but there's not much we can do about it. It's out of our hands.''

Several members of the Sri Lankan squad had a light workout at the gym yesterday with physiotherapist Alex Kountouri, while batsman Mahela Jayawardene took a clean break from his poor run of form by playing golf with Whatmore at the East London Golf Club.

Kiwi coach Denis Aberhart said Kenya, who were helped into the Super Sixes after New Zealand forfeited their match in Nairobi over security concerns, deserved their success as well as their good luck.

``Well done to Kenya! They have played some good cricket and they have had some fortunate times as well,'' he said as his side prepared at Centurion.

Asked to put Kenya's success in context after West Indies went out in the first round despite beating the Kenyans by 142 runs, Aberhart added: ``That is the nature of the competition. Perhaps that may be good for cricket.

``We have someone else on the world stage spreading the gospel. It's true some other good teams are not there but I wouldn't downgrade Kenya at all.''

Kenya's all-time high mirrored by Zimbabwe low
By Telford Vice
BLOEMFONTEIN, (Reuters) - Kenya captain Steve Tikolo described his side's win over Zimbabwe in their World Cup Super Six match yesterday in emphatic terms.

``I believe it is the biggest day in every Kenyan's life,'' Tikolo told reporters. ``I hope it means a lot at home. Today was extraordinary.''

Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak, meanwhile, conceded that he had hit one of the low points of his career as his team's hopes of reaching the last four evaporated.

Kenya, who have one-day status but are not ranked good enough to play Tests, earned a place against India in the semifinals with a seven-wicket win, concluded with 24 overs to spare.

It was the first time a non-Test playing team had progressed so far in the World Cup. It was also the first time Kenya had ever beaten Zimbabwe.

``There have been many critics saying Kenya should not be in the Super Sixes,'' Tikolo said. ``Hopefully we've shut a few of them up now.''

The match was won and lost when Zimbabwe were dismissed for 133.

``When they were 90 for seven I thought we would do well to bowl them out for 150, so 133 was a good effort,'' Tikolo said.

He added his normally exuberant team had felt pressure going into the match.

``We celebrated a lot in our other matches, but today was a tense day,'' Tikolo said. ``We knew we had to beat Zimbabwe and not leave our destiny up to other teams.''

Tikolo said the semifinal qualification was a just reward for some of the longer-serving members of the squad.

``It's the icing on the cake,'' Tikolo said. ``The patience and dedication paying off now.''

Coach Sandeep Patil, a former India Test cricketer, said part of Kenya's win had gone according to plan.

``Normally what you plan doesn't happen, but we decided we needed to bowl 10 wicket-taking deliveries in this match, and that's what we did,'' he said.

He hoped the International Cricket Council would take note but refused to be drawn on Kenya's claims for Test status.

``It's a great day for Kenyan cricket, but I hope we keep our feet on the ground,'' Patil said. ``Steve has done an excellent job as a captain and led from the front.''

Asked if Kenya could beat India, Patil said: ``It's one-day cricket. We have beaten India in the past.''

Streak conceded his team had been affected by off-the-field issues.

``It's been tough,'' Streak told reporters. ``There have been a lot of political insinuations, and it's been tough for the players to keep focused on the cricket. These things do have a bearing on how you perform out there.''

Andy Flower and Henry Olonga sparked controversy by wearing black armbands in the team's opening match against Namibia in Harare on February 10, protesting at what they saw as human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

Selector Andy Pycroft resigned on Tuesday, saying there had been a lack of consultation and communication with his fellow selectors. Zimbabwe have only won two matches all tournament -- against Namibia and Netherlands -- but reached the second round thanks to a match forfeit by England and a wash-out against Pakistan.

Streak, though, paid tribute to the winners.

``We didn't underestimate Kenya,'' Streak said. ``They've been sticking to a simple but disciplined game plan. Our batsmen didn't work out how to score against their medium pacers on a slowish wicket.

``The groundsman said the wicket would be slow, and we thought it would just get slower as the day wore on.

``They created pressure by bowling in the right areas, it's not that the ball wasn't swinging or seaming around.

``They've hit form at the right time, they're playing with a lot of confidence and they're obviously enjoying their cricket.''