By Tony Becca - On The Boundary 
REMEMBER THE words of Maurice Odumbe last week after Kenya had qualified for the Super Six round of the World Cup?
If you do not, these were some of the words of the former captain: "When we were preparing for the World Cup we never dreamt that we would have been in the Super Six. We prayed for just two things - to beat one of the big teams, and to have a nice time. Although people are saying that we should not be in the Super Six, we are there, and we are not going to embarrass ourselves. We are going to fight."
Well, Kenya are certainly having a nice time. After defeating Zimbabwe yesterday they are now in the semi-finals and, regardless of the result, whether they win, lose or draw when they take on India in the semi-finals, they will be happy.
They will be happy for the simple reason that as the first non-Test team to reach the semi-finals they will return home as heroes, and with US$110,000 already in the bag, with another US$20,000 to come in this round even if they lose to Australia, and with another US$400,000 to come even if they lose to India, with some money in their pockets.
I can just imagine Odumbe having a drink last night and saying, "well, no one can now say we do not belong", and after knocking off Test-playing countries Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the first round, after dismissing Zimbabwe, he would be right.
Zimbabwe are not numbered among the big teams. They are, however, one of the Test-playing teams, Kenya had never defeated them in 14 matches between the two teams and to come to the World Cup and beat them is an achievement.
What is important, however, is that although it was mostly a dream, it was also part of a plan - as it was with Sri Lanka in the first round.
After praying to beat one of the big teams in the first round, Kenya set their sights on Sri Lanka and cut them down; and it was the same with Zimbabwe.
Although it would have been possible for Kenya to get into the semi-finals without winning a game in the Super Six, one victory would have guaranteed them a place, and after looking at Australia and India and deciding not to even think about it, they set their sights on Zimbabwe and went for them.
In a performance during which they did the basics well by bowling a good line and length, fielded brilliantly and batted sensibly, Kenya not only defeated the favourites but in doing so also routed them for their lowest total against Kenya and then eased to victory with seven wickets in hand and 24 overs to spare.
It was a wonderful performance rounded off by Odumbe himself.
Going to bat with Kenya on 62 for three in the 17th over and Zimbabwe still hopeful, Odumbe, confidently going down the pitch and hitting with the spin, slammed eight boundaries while scoring 38 not out off 20 deliveries.
India and Sachin Tendulkar are Kenya's next opponents, despite their performance to date, a place in the final would be a miracle, and it would be nice to hear from Odumbe - to hear if Kenya are dreaming again and if they have turned their sights on India.
The next best thing to hearing from Odumbe is to go back to last week and remember some of his other words: "One-day cricket is a funny thing. A little pressure can affect the best."
