Zimbabwe leave Kenya winless

Kenya made less than half of their victory target as Zimbabwe exited the Cricket World Cup on a high [AFP]

Kenya crumbled under the pressure of chasing a huge total as the Zimbabwe spinners skittled them for just 147 runs in a thumping 161-run loss in their final Cricket World Cup match.

The East Africans flunked their final chance to register a win in the World Cup as they succumbed meekly in just 36 overs, looking to chase down a steep 309-run target for victory in Group A at Eden Gardens.

The Zimbabwe spin battery of Ray Price, Prosper Utseya, Greg Lamb and Graeme Cremer put the Kenyan batsmen on the mat by picking up wickets regularly on a batting-friendly pitch in Kolkata on Sunday.

Earlier, the Zimbabwe batsmen made merry against an insipid bowling performance as Tatenda Taibu (53), Vusi Sibanda (61) and Craig Ervine (66) notched half-centuries to take their team to 308 for six after opting to bat first.

Neither team qualified for the quarterfinals and both now return home.

Taibu and Sibanda laid the foundations for Zimbabwe with a 110-run partnership for the third wicket after they had lost both their openers inside the first 10 overs.

Ervine then added 105 runs for the fifth wicket with skipper Elton Chigumbura to take Zimbabwe towards a solid total.

Greg Lamb and Prosper Utseya finished the innings in style, adding 32 runs off the last two overs to take the total past the 300-run mark.

For Kenya, Steve Tikolo, 39, captained the side for the injured Jimmy Kamande in his last international.