I / Trelawny (Jamaica) March 09, 2007
| Skipper Steve Tikolo posted a composed 51 and snared five for 48 with his accurate medium-pace to steer Kenya to a nine-run win over the Netherlands in a World Cup warm-up cricket match. Thomas Odoyo's blazing 49-ball 73 spurred Kenya to 274 for eight in 50 overs, but the Dutch batsmen appeared on course for a successful chase before Tikolo ripped through the middle-order on Thursday. Tikolo, 35, brought himself on as the seventh bowler for Kenya, whose attack was wilting under the impact of a 142-run opening stand between Bas Zuiderent (65) and Darron Reekers (75). Allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate, who plays for English county Essex, kept Netherlands on course with a half century, but the match swung in Kenya's favour after he was run out. "We were in with a chance until the last three overs when Ten Doeschate got out, we just couldn't finish it off," Netherlands captain Luuv van Troost said. Peter Borren's three sixes in one over from Jimmy Kamende had raised the Dutch hopes, but the experienced Tikolo did not allow the tailenders any chances. "The big opening partnership caused some concern, but we knew the Dutch batsmen will come under pressure if we bowled a tight line," said Tikolo, who was a member of the Kenyan team that emerged as surprise World Cup semifinalists in 2003. |
