ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

KENYA v NETHERLANDS Despite losing Tom de Grooth early, offering no stroke to a straight ball from Rajesh Bhudia, the Dutch dominated the first day, largely through a maiden first-class hundred from Ryan ten Doeschate. He attacked the bowling from the start, hitting Thomas Odoyo for three fours and, by mid-afternoon, had reached his century without giving a chance. He was well supported by Bas Zuiderent and Tim de Leede, as the Kenyan bowlers struggled to obtain any life from an easy-paced pitch. De Leede added to Kenya’s woes when he pulled a ball vigorously to Hitesh Modi, who not only dropped it, but broke a finger and was not expected to play any further part in the match. Daan van Bunge helped ten Doeschate add 130 for the fourth wicket either side of tea but, just as he was looking dangerous, he offered a catch to the wicketkeeper off the bowling of Ashish Karia. Seven runs later, ten Doeschate drove lazily at a ball from Karia and was caught at extra cover by Steve Tikolo; he had batted for ten minutes short of five hours and hit 15 fours and three sixes with a strike rate of 66.6. Alexei Kervezee was unluckily run out when a straight drive by Lucas van Troost was deflected by Tikolo on to the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Shortly before the close, Kenya gained further success when the new ball was taken after 92 overs, although it was available after 80, and Peter Ongondo, who bowled economically all day, dismissed Darren Reekers. After a delayed start on the second morning because of rain, Kenya needed quick wickets but got only one, Odoyo accounting for Jeroen Smits. Van Troost continued to score freely and received surprisingly good support from Edgar Schiferli. Immediately after lunch, van Troost was dropped by Maurice Ouma behind the stumps. By the time van Troost was caught by Odoyo at long on, attempting a big hit off Collins Obuya, the partnership was worth 95 runs. With the Dutch on 452 for nine, further rain held up proceedings for 45 minutes. When play restarted, Schiferli struck Tikolo for six over long on and put on a further 22 runs with Mohammad Kashif for the last wicket, before being too adventurous off Ongondo and falling to a good catch in the deep by Obuya. The Dutch total was the highest in the competition to date. Kenya’s reply began promisingly, with 28 runs made in the first half-hour, but, on the last ball before tea Smits made a spectacular low catch to remove Ouma. With the score on 50, Brijal Patel was trapped leg-before by Reekers and in the next over Schiferli bowled Tony Suji, who failed to offer a shot to a straight delivery, to leave Kenya in real difficulty on 50 for three. Tikolo held firm and showed that the pitch was still good for batting but Tanmay Mishra, after hitting three attractive boundaries, was too ambitious and edged to slip, and Obuya, after looking unsettled for nearly an hour, finally succumbed to the off spin of Kashif. Odoyo remained with Tikolo at the close as play was extended to allow for the time lost earlier to rain. When the umpires called the players in at 6.13 pm because of problems caused by the setting sun, Kenya still trailed by 339 runs and needed 189 more to avoid the follow-on. Heavy rain overnight (8.89 mm fell bringing into question why the ICC scheduled the match during one of the two rainy seasons that Nairobi has each year) resulted in a delayed start whilst water was cleared from the tarpaulins, only to reveal a wet patch on the pitch caused by seepage under the covers. When play got under way, it was suspended after 15 minutes when a short-pitched ball reared alarmingly and nearly decapitated Odoyo. The Dutch captain wanted to take an early lunch but this request was refused by Tikolo. The match was eventually resumed and ten Doeschate ended Odoyo’s resistance when he played on. In the next over, ten Doeschate rammed his finger into the soft pitch, attempting a caught and bowled, and had to retire for treatment and an X-ray. Tikolo batted superbly all day, but could not find a partner to stay long enough or score sufficient runs to help Kenya’s cause until Peter Ongondo, the most unlikely of cricketers to bat for any period of time, resisted for over two and a half hours in a partnership of 123 runs for the eighth wicket. When he fell to the leg spin of van Bunge, Kenya were still 11 runs short of the follow-on target. Bhudia was foolishly run out in the next over, attempting a second run, and the Dutch thought the innings had ended. However, Modi courageously came in, his left hand heavily strapped, and, batting one-handedly (right hand), survived 17 balls whilst Tikolo farmed the bowling. The follow-on was saved in style by Tikolo hitting a six. On the last day, Modi survived long enough for Tikolo to reach his double-century and take the last-wicket stand to 52. The Netherlands made no attempt to win the match, deciding to bat through the day somewhat laboriously, the strike rate of 42.6 providing scant entertainment for the few spectators. Steve Tikolo was Man of the Match for saving Kenya in a monumental innings which lasted nearly eight hours; he hit 25 fours and one six and maintained a strike rate of 55.7, a truly phenomenal effort. 86 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2006-07