ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

CANADA v KENYA With Canada having just failed to beat The Netherlands and Kenya holding out to avoid defeat by Ireland on their respective visits to Europe in July, the two teams offered the prospect of a close match. After a delayed start and with moisture in the pitch, Kenya, having chosen to bat first, were soon in difficulties against the strong opening attack of Umar Bhatti and Henry Osinde. With both opening batsmen dismissed and only 27 runs on the board, Kenya were indebted to a third-wicket partnership of 53 between Alex Obanda and Steve Tikolo to give the innings some foundation. An inspired bowling change brought Zameer Zahir success with his first ball as he removed Obanda’s off stump. Tikolo and Maurice Ouma then proceeded to play with authority to take Kenya through to lunch at 105 for three from 26 overs. After the interval, the pair continued to execute a range of shots all round the ground and Canada tried eight bowlers in an attempt to break the partnership. Tikolo reached his century off only 106 balls, an impressive strike rate of 94.3. A drinks break caused a loss of concentration and Ouma succumbed leg-before to an arm ball from the left-arm spin of Sunil Dhaniram, who also quickly accounted for Collins Obuya. Tikolo pressed on despite lacking support from a range of partners before becoming the ninth wicket to fall when Osinde got the new ball to move off the seam and induce a catch to the wicketkeeper. Shortly after, Kenya were all out for 317, a reasonable total but heavily reliant on the performance of Tikolo who made half of his team’s runs. He batted for five hours and eighteen minutes and hit 22 fours. With only six overs left in the day, Canada started poorly. Thomas Odoyo thought he had Jimmy Hansra leg-before with the first ball of the innings but the umpire held a different view. A repeat ball with his next delivery, however, was successful. Odoyo then held an easy catch at cover to remove Rizwan Cheema and Canada ended the day on 14 for two. Canada batted with patience and resilience for much of the second day but without being able to translate their time at the crease into sufficient runs. Sameer Jyoti and the nightwatchman Zahir took the score to 80 off the pace bowlers, but, as soon as the spinners were tried, Jyoti fell tamely to a catch at silly point off the bowling of Hiren Varaiya. A spectacular catch by Odoyo accounted for Abdool Samad and Canada were 81 for four at lunch. Wickets fell regularly in the afternoon session and only Zahir went on to any sizeable contribution. His 57 was the top score of the innings, made in two hours and twelve minutes with seven fours and two towering sixes over long on. After tea, taken at 180 for seven, defence became the order of the day with six consecutive maidens. Jimmy Kamande produced a spell of five successive maidens followed by two more overs for two runs but did not manage to take a wicket. Nitish Kumar survived for 83 balls but made only 12, a strike rate of 14.4. Kenya had to use the new ball to bring the innings to the end. They then had to face 30 minutes’ batting, during which time they made 12 without loss. The third day started well for Canada as David Obuya and Obanda fell to catches and the score moved from 12 for nought overnight to 32 for two. That, however, was the extent of their success for most of the day. Seren Waters and Tikolo took the score to 112 for two at lunch, although both offered chances which were not taken, and then dominated the afternoon session. Again Canada used eight bowlers, whilst the partnership reached 254 for two at tea and continued into the evening until it reached 330, when Tikolo was caught on the long-on boundary trying for his third six. His 169 runs came off only 207 balls; his partner, Waters, remained undefeated on 157 from 268 balls. Tikolo’s dismissal was the signal for the declaration with Canada requiring 446 runs for victory. Cheema and Jyoti fell before the close, leaving Samad, promoted to opener, not out in partnership with Zahir, again occupying the nightwatchman slot. On the last day Zahir was unable to repeat his heroics of the first innings, losing his off stump to Odoyo. Hiren Varaiya then produced a classic display of slow left-arm bowling to which, with the exception of Samad, the Canadian batsmen had no answer. Wickets fell regularly all morning, leaving Canada 157 for seven at lunch. Once Samad was out leg-before in the second over after the interval, Varaiya finished the innings remarkably quickly, giving him a return of six wickets for 45. This performance was not enough to win the Man-of-the-Match award which went to Steve Tikolo for centuries in each innings. The anticipated close match thus turned out to be an easy win for Kenya. 184 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2009-10