The Kenya Cricket Team is an associate member of the International Cricket Council. Till now, it has played 154 ODIs and 77 T20Is but is yet to play in the longest format of the game. Out of the 154 ODIs played, it has won just 42 matches. It has appeared in the ICC Cricket World Cup five times till now. In this article, we will have a look at the top ten scored by this African nation in One Day Internationals.

1. 265/5 Vs India

In the 1998 Coca-Cola Triangular Series, Kenya registered their tenth-highest ODI total against the mighty Indians at Gwalior on 28th May, 1998. Batting first, Kenya accumulated this total in their allotted 50 overs. Opener Ravi Shah scored a brilliant 70-run off 68 balls, while Maurice Odumbe and Hitesh Modi scored 83 off 91 and 51 off 54 balls respectively. It turned out to be a nightmare for the Indians as Kenya defeated the Asian giants by a margin of 69 runs. Odumbe was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance.

2. 266/9 Vs Zimbabwe

On 15th October, 2009, Kenya posted 266 runs on the board batting first against fellow African neighbours Zimbabwe at Harare in the third ODI of the series. Openers David Obuya and Alex Obanda gave the visitors a very good start as they scored 56 and 65 runs respectively. Later in the innings, Collins Obuya scored another half-century (52 off 63 balls) before he was ran out by Cremer. Other contributions here and there helped the Kenyans post 266 in their allotted overs. The match ended with Kenya winning by 20 runs.

3. 266/6 Vs The Netherlands

In the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier held on 23rd January, 2014 at Lincoln, the Netherlands set a target of 266 for the African nation. The Kenyan innings started brilliantly with opener Irfan Karim scoring a quickfire 108 off just 84 balls. At one down, Ragheb Aga scored a brilliant 86 off 70 balls while Collins Obuya scored a quick knock of 37 off just 24 balls. All these contributions helped Kenya go past their target easily in just 35.4 overs. Karim was awarded the Man of the Match award for his match-winning century.

4. 270/8 Vs Zimbabwe

After winning the third ODI of the series, Kenya started pretty well in the fourth ODI as well at Harare on 17th October, 2009. Batting first, their openers gave them a good start with David Obuya scoring 49 runs and Alex Obanda scoring 33 runs. Rakep Patel also scored a good 47-run knock while their skipper Ouma led from the front, scoring 58-off 58 balls. At the end, it was Thomas Odoyo who scored a quickfire 30 off just 17 runs to finish the proceedings. Kenya posted a total of 270/8 in their allotted 50 overs. This ranks seventh in this list. However, the hosts fought back and won the match comprehensively by 6 wickets.

5. 284/7 Vs Zimbabwe

Another good total by the Kenya team against the Zimbabweans came on February 26, 2006 when the two African nations locked horns in the  second ODI of the series at Bulawayo. After losing two early wickets, Tony Suji and veteran batsman Steve Tikolo steadied the ship. While Suji scored 35 runs, Tikolo scored an impressive 98-run knock in just 83 balls. Further contributions from Thomas Odoyo (38 runs), Tanmay Mishra (46 runs) and Kamande ( unbeaten 32 runs) helped the visitors post a good total of 284 on the board. Kenya also bowled well in that match, thus winning the competition by 78 runs. Their skipper Tikolo was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance.

6. 285/9 Vs Zimbabwe

Kenya’s love story with their African neighbours Zimbabwe continued as they scored another huge total against the latter in the 2008 Tri-Nation Tournament. Coming out to bat in the first innings at the Gymkhana Stadium in Nairobi, the hosts went off to a rather slow start. After losing two wickets for 35 runs, Alex Obanda and skipper Tikolo walked out in the middle and steadied the ship. While Obanda scored 71 off 100 balls, Tikolo led from the front scoring an outstanding century. Tikolo’s knock came in 99 balls and he smashed 12 boundaries and a couple of big hits. As a result, Kenya posted a huge total of 285 runs at the end of their innings and eventually won the match too by 95 runs.

7. 286/9 Vs Ireland

Kenya’s fourth-highest ODI score came against the Iris at Nairobi in the ICC World Cricket League Division One on February 2, 2007. Chasing 285 runs, Odhiambo scored an important knock of 66 runs off 83 balls, coming out to bat at no.3. Later Tanmay Mishra added 49 runs on the board. The chase ended with Thomas Odoyo scoring a quickfire, blistering knock of 61 runs off just 36 balls. He smashed 5 fours and a six in his innings. All these top contributions steered Kenya to victory with just one wicket in hand and just one over remaining. Odoyo was adjudged the Man of the Match for his excellent all-round display.

8. 305/8 Vs Bermuda

Kenya crossed the 300-run mark for the second time in ODI cricket at Mombasa against Bermuda on 14th November, 2006. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Kenyan opener Morris Ouma scored 47 odd runs in 71 balls. Later, their skipper Steve Tikolo scored a blistering knock of 111 runs in just 98 balls while Tanmay Mishra scored 44 runs in 51 balls. Thomas Odoyo finished the proceedings with a quickfire and unbeaten knock of 35 runs in 19 balls, helping Kenya post 305 in their allotted overs. Kenya won the game comprehensively and once again it was Steve Tikolo who stole the Man of the Match award for his all-round display.

9. 328/5 Vs Scotland

In the first match of the Associates Tri-Series at Mombasa on January, 2007, Kenya won the toss and elected to bat first against their European opposition. Apart from their captain Steve Tikolo, almost everyone contributed well. Opener David Obuya scored 74-ball 73 while Ravi Shah scored 54 runs off 53 balls. Tanmay Mishra and Collins Obuya both scored half-centuries, smashing 66 and 68 runs respectively. Thomas Odoyo ended the proceedings with a finisher’s knock of 45 off just 26 balls, smashing one boundary and four huge sixes. All these contributions helped the hosts post a commendable total of 328 runs on the board.

10. 347/3 Vs Bangladesh

Kenya’s highest-ever total in 50-overs cricket came against Bangladesh in the first match of the President’s Cup in Nairobi on October 10, 1997. Coming out to bat first, both the Kenyan openers were in sublime form and gave the hosts a commendable start. While Chudasama scored 122 off 113 balls, his partner Otieno scored a steady 144-run knock in 146 balls as they made an opening wicket stand of 225 runs.  These two innings, along with some others’ contributions helped the hosts post a huge total of 347 runs on the board. Kenya won the match by 150 runs and Otieno was awarded the Man of the Match award.