5 biggest upsets by Associate nations in ODIs

#3 Kenya vs Sri Lanka (2003)

Kenya surprised everyone by reaching the semifinals of the 2003 World Cup

Upon parting ways with the East African team, Kenya gained Associate Status in 1981. Fifteen years later, they qualified for their maiden World Cup. A resounding victory against West Indies made the ICC take notice and award ODI status to the emerging side. Aside from a couple of wins against an insipid Indian outfit, they largely struggled to keep pace with the evolving 50-over format during the latter part of the 1990s.

Extra Cover: Kenya's 2003 World Cup semi-final team - Where are they now?

Co-hosting the 2003 World Cup with South Africa and Zimbabwe, Kenya reached their seminal moment by defying all odds. They overcame the much more fancied Sri Lankan side with a spirited performance at Nairobi. Riding on wicket-keeper Kennedy Otieno's steadfast half-century, they put on a respectable total.

With the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara in their ranks, Sri Lanka were expected to cruise. But Collins Obuya intervened by delivering one of the most memorable spells in World Cup history. The leg-spinner's astonishing five-wicket haul sent the Asian giants plummeting to a 53-run defeat. Kenya's fairy-tale continued till the semifinals wherein they were outclassed by Sourav Ganguly's formidable Indian team.

Brief Scores: Kenya - 210/9 (Kennedy Otieno 60, Muttiah Muralitharan 4/28, Chaminda Vaas 3/41); Sri Lanka - 157 from 45 overs (Aravinda de Silva 41, Collins Obuya 5/24, Steve Tikolo 2/13)

Result: Kenya won by 53 runs