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Kenyan cricket legend Collins Obuya has announced retirement from international cricket following team's final match at the African Games which ended in a heartbreaking loss to Uganda in the bronze medal match held in Accra, Ghana. Kenya lost the match to Uganda by 106 runs.
Collins Obuya's defining moment in 2003 ODI World Cup
Collins Obuya's defining moment came at the 2003 ODI World Cup. He spearheaded Kenya's historic run to the semifinals, etching his name in cricketing history. His bowling prowess was on full display, claiming a career-best haul of 5 wickets for just 24 runs against Sri Lanka, a key factor in their 53-run victory. This exceptional performance caught the eye of English county side Warwickshire, who offered him a one-year contract, making Obuya the first Kenyan international to play for a county team. Obuya's contributions extended beyond that iconic World Cup. Throughout his career, he amassed a respectable 2,044 runs in 104 One-Day Internationals, showcasing his batting skills alongside his bowling talent. He also served as Kenya's captain for a period, demonstrating his leadership qualities on the field.
While Obuya's final act at the crease wasn't the fairytale ending many envisioned, being dismissed for a duck in the first over by Cosmas Kyewuta, it certainly didn't reflect his overall performance in the tournament. Just prior to this dismissal, he had strung together three consecutive half-centuries, showcasing his enduring talent even at the age of 42.
Obuya's decision to retire came as a surprise to many, including his opponents. However, upon raising his bat in farewell after his final innings, the reality sunk in for the Ugandan team. A display of true sportsmanship followed, with both teams forming a guard of honour to applaud Obuya off the field, a fitting tribute to a player who has left an indelible mark on Kenyan cricket.
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While refecting on his career after his final match, Obuya said:
"I want to thank everyone, my teammates and my family who have been there for me in good times and hard times. It has been a lovely career for me, to have been able to play that long. I am very proud of my career, but it's time to concentrate on my coaching back home and do what good I can for cricket."
Collins Obuya's batting best in 2011 World Cup
Obuya's best outing with the bat came came at the 2011 World Cup. Facing a formidable Australian bowling attack featuring Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait, and Brett Lee, he displayed remarkable resilience with an unbeaten knock of 98 runs. Unfortunately, this was a rare bright spot in a disappointing tournament for Kenya. Taking over the captaincy from Jimmy Kamande after the 2011 World Cup, Obuya inherited a team already on a downward trajectory. This tournament marked Kenya's final appearance on the international stage so far. He led the team through the 2011-13 World Cricket League Championship, even taking on a more prominent bowling role. However, they struggled to compete with the likes of Ireland and a resurgent Afghanistan, resulting in a decline in their rankings. Following a disastrous performance at the 2012 T20 Qualifier, Obuya stepped down as the Twenty20 captain, and later relinquished the ODI captaincy before the 2014 World Cup Qualifier.
Obuya's illustrious 23-year-long cricketing career saw him featuring in 104 ODIs and 76 T20Is for Kenya in which he amassed 2044 runs and 1793 runs respectively. Meanwhile, he also picked 35 ODI wickets and 25 T20I wickets in his cricketing career.
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