The Hindu : Sport : Tikolo stars in Kenya's easy outing

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Friday, Mar 16, 2007
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Tikolo stars in Kenya's easy outing

INSPIRING: Steve Tikolo enacted his role as Kenya's captain to perfection. — Photo: AFP

GROS ISLET (St. Lucia): Impressive slow bowling and a captain's innings from Steve Tikolo helped Kenya to a seven-wicket win over Canada in the opening World Cup Group C match on Wednesday.

The Africans reached their target in 43.2 overs having restricted fellow tournament outsider Canada to 199.

Tikolo, playing in his fourth World Cup, struck a patient, unbeaten 72 (7x4, 1x6) to guide his side home, with Maurice Ouma chipping in with 58 (6x4, 1x6).

"It's important to win your first game so you get the momentum into the next game," said the 35-year-old all-rounder, who was voted Man of the Match.

"It's important being the senior member of the team to lead from the front and that happened today."

Put in to bat, Canada made a quick start with Geoff Barnett smashing five fours off a wayward 14th over from Nehemiah Odhiambo. Barnett top-scored with 41 (50b, 9 x 4) for Canada, which suffered three comical run outs late in its innings.

Canadian paceman Anderson Cummins became only the second man, after Kepler Wessels (Australia and South Africa), to play in two World Cups for two different nations. Cummins had appeared for the West Indies in the 1992 tournament.

Chasing 199, Tikolo and Ouma put on 67 for the third wicket before slow bowler Sunil Dhaniram removed Ouma. But Tikolo settled in, and combining with Tanmay Mishra, guided his side to a win in the 44th over.

Tikolo said the side was just looking ahead to New Zealand and England matches. ``That's history now, that's gone,'' Tikolo said. ``After today's game, the guys are looking forward to the next game and hoping to do well.'' — Agencies

SCOREBOARD

Canada: G. Barnett c Mishra b Ongondo 41, A. Samad c Tikolo b Odoyo 15, A. Bagai st. Ouma b Varaiya 19, I. Billcliff c & b Tikolo 34, J. Davison b Kamande 8, Q. Ali b Kamande 6, A. Mulla c Ongondo b Tikolo 25, S. Dhaniram (not out) 34, U. Bhatti (run out) 1, A. Cummins (run out) 1, H. Osinde (run out) 1, Extras (lb-5, nb-6, w-3) 14, Total (in 50 overs) 199.

Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-73, 3-102, 4-115, 5-127, 6-146, 7-175, 8-185, 9-187.

Kenya bowling: Odoyo 8-1-32-1, Ongondo 10-0-51-1, Odhiambo 3-0-33-0, Varaiya 10-3-19-1, Kamande 10-1-25-2, Tikolo 9-0-34-2.

Kenya: M. Ouma c Mulla b Dhaniram 58, D. Obuya c Bagai b Cummins 4, R. Shah lbw b Bhatti 6, S. Tikolo (not out) 72, T. Mishra (not out) 35, Extras (b-1, lb-2, nb-2, w-18, pen-5) 28, Total (for three wkts. in 43.2 overs) 203.

Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-52, 3-119.

Canada bowling: Bhatti 9-0-44-1, Cummins 8-0-32-1, Osinde 5.2-0-31-0, Davison 9-0-31-0, Samad 3-0-23-0, Dhaniram 9-1-34-1.

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