"We threw it away", says Kamande

Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande in training before Kenya played Pakistan last week. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Another insignificant positive for Kenya, though, was Kamande’s goal of playing out 50 overs; gutsy half centuries from Tanmay Mishra and Thomas Odoyo acting as the bedrock of what was their best batting performance of the tournament.

The victory saw Canada improve their record against Kenya to five wins from 16 matches.

In their first nine meetings, they won just one game and lost eight and since then they have won four matches and lost one.

Canada’s win is only their second in World Cups after their 60-run victory over Bangladesh in 2003. They have won two and lost 14 of the 16 matches they have played.

Kenya were dismissed for the 16th time for a score of under 200 in World Cups. In 27 innings, they have scored 200 on just 10 occasions. The latest result against Canada was the first occasion that Kenya have passed 150 in the 2011 World Cup.

Kenya now requires a miracle to come out of the World Cup with a win since they have a mountainous task in meeting defending champions Australia in their last preliminary match on March 13.

Kenya awkwardly sits at the bottom of the seven-team pool A behind fellow Associate member Canada.

Pakistan top the table on six points followed by Sri Lanka (five), Australia (five), New Zealand (four), Zimbabwe (two) Canada (two) and Kenya (nought).

Hosts India are commanding Pool B on five points followed by England (five), West Indies (four), South Africa (four), Ireland (two), Bangladesh (two) and Netherlands (zero). The top four teams in each group advance to Super Eight stage.

Meanwhile, South Africa skipper Graeme Smith hit back at claims his side had ‘choked’ again at the World Cup after a dramatic six-run loss to England on Sunday.

Defeat ended the Proteas’ unbeaten start to the tournament and raised fresh questions about their nerve in tight games.

Needing just 172 to win, they were cruising at 63 without loss.