Thanks to a polished half century by an injured Ravindu Shah, good support by the Kenyan captain, Steve Tikolo, and a very good all-round performance by Thomas Odoyo, the Kenyan team beat Canada by four wickets in a Cricket World Cup game at Newlands on Saturday.
Canada scored 197 runs in 49 overs. Kenya reached the winning target of 198 in 48.3 overs in front of an enthusiastic Newlands crowd of 12 291.
The Kenyans started off well, thanks to a partnership of 84 off 103 balls for the second wicket between Shah (61), which included nine fours, and the captain, Steve Tikolo (42).
When Tikolo left the scene at 99/2 after being trapped LBW by the off-spinner John Davison, the Kenyans started to struggle against the slow bowler who ended with figures of 3/15.
Odoyo, with 27 runs off 42 balls accelerated at the right time to help the Kenyan’s, but his side had to work hard against the spirited efforts of the North American visitors.
Shah virtually batted on one leg because of a hamstring injury but it seemingly never effected his fluency or timing. The chief contributors to the Canadian innings were the burly Ian Billcliff (71), the captain, Joseph Harris (31) and opening
batsman John Davison with 31.
The highlight of the Canadian innings was the 86 run partnership off 163 deliveries for the fourth wicket between Harris and Billcliff.
Harris benefited from a sloppy dropped catch by wicketkeeper, David Obuya, off the bowling of Peter Ondongo , when the captain had five.
Billcliff and Harris consolidated the Canadian innings after the aggressive Davison provided the early fireworks, with a huge six which almost landed in the media box on the fourth floor of the North stand.
The brief and breezy knock ended when Davison was caught by Collins Obuya off Ongondo. Billcliff dominated the partnership with Harris but the two senior batsmen were held in check by some accurate leg spin-bowling by Obuya and discliplined medium pace bowling by Odoyo.
When Harris departed in the 38th over when he was well caught by Thomas Suji off Obuya, the Canadian innings lost some momentum.
Odoyo (4/28) was the pick of the bowlers and was well supported by Maurice Odumbe (2/41) and Collins Obuya (2/46). – Sapa