Zimbabwe beat Kenya by 66 runs to secure a fourth consecutive victory in their one-day inter-national series yesterday after some punishing displays by batsmen Forster Mutizwa and Hamilton Masakadza.

Masakadza opened up with a 58-run knock, which included eight fours off 56 balls, while Mutizwa rounded off the Zimbabwe innings with 61 as the visitors rattled up a total of 285-8 off 50 overs at Nairobi's Gymkhana Club Ground.

Kenya replied with a fighting 219 all out, thanks to an outstanding unbeaten 96 from batsmen Alex Obanda.

Medium-pace bowling

The medium-pace bowling of Zimbabwe's Elton Chigumbura did much of the damage, claiming four Kenyan wickets in a seven-over spell that cost his side only 28 runs.

Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat, putting in Masakadza and Vusi Sibanda, who was soon trapped lbw by Peter Ongondo for five runs. Stuart Matsikenyeri only added another nine before making way for Sean Williams, whose 43 helped lay the foundation for the innings.

Bowled

Masakadza was eventually bowled by Nehemiah Odhiambo, but Chigumbura chipped in with a useful 36 and Prosper Utseya's unbeaten 51 also bolstered the Zimbabwe total before Mutizwa was caught by Rajesh Bhudia in the closing stages off another Odhiambo delivery.

Kenya made a bright enough start in reply, with 20 from Kennedy Otieno and 29 from Seren Waters. But only the towering performance by Obanda spared the home side an even bigger defeat. Further down the order, Collins Obuya's 14 was the fourth-highest total among the Kenyan batsmen.

The five-match ODI series finishes at the Gymkhana Club Ground on Wednesday.