ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

KENYA v UGANDA This should have been Uganda’s home fixture in the competition but in mid June the Uganda and Kenya Cricket Associations agreed to switch the game from the Lugogo Stadium in Kampala to Nairobi after an ICC inspection expressed concerns about the state of the newly-laid turf pitch. On winning the toss, Steve Tikolo had no hesitation in asking Uganda to bat, a decision which was more than justified when the first five wickets fell before the half-century was reached. Whether Uganda’s players were overawed by the occasion or Kenya were simply the more experienced and better side, their batsmen failed to demonstrate the application that they had shown in their previous match against Namibia. The Nairobi pitch favoured the pace bowlers for the first two days and Uganda struggled against Martin Suji, Tom Odoyo and Peter Ongondo. Only Nand Kishore Patel showed an ability to stay for any length of time, his 42 runs coming at a strike rate of 26.4. Kenneth Kamyuka played a typically robust innings in support, his 40 runs coming at a strike rate of 80.0, including two sixes, the only ones made in the whole match. If Uganda’s moderate total reflected any problems with the pitch, they rapidly disappeared when Kenya replied. Kennedy Otieno misjudged a ball from Junior Kwebiha just after the half-century was reached but thereafter Ravindu Shah and Hitesh Modi scored freely. The hundred was passed before the close when Kenya were 50 runs behind with nine wickets in hand. Shah and Modi batted through the first session on the second day and it was not until early afternoon that the partnership was ended by a run-out. Both players showed how batting should be done in a three-day match, choosing which balls to hit but decrying recklessness. With respective strike rates of 55.3 and 49.4, they laid a solid foundation on which Kenya’s later batsmen could build. An impressive mid-afternoon spell of pace bowling from Kamyuka, however, caused a collapse of Kenya’s middle order; they lost four wickets for 11 runs. Rather than allow a chance for Uganda to take the intiative, Tikolo decided to declare with a lead of 155. It was now Odoyo’s turn to exploit the conditions; he took the first three wickets whilst Uganda amassed only 17 runs. Joel Olwenyi and Junior Kwebiha responded with stout defence and took advantage of any scoring opportunities, the former reaching his half-century with a strike rate of 70.8. Both had gone before the close, however, to leave Uganda 37 runs behind and only three wickets left. Bad light caused play to be suspended 11 overs early which saved Uganda from the humiliation of a possible defeat in two days. Patel and Franco Nsubuga continued Uganda’s resistance on the third morning, adding a further 23 runs, but once Patel was bowled by Maurice Odumbe, the innings quickly folded with Collins Obuya picking up the last two wickets with his leg spin. Apart from a short period on the second afternoon, Kenya were on top throughout the match. It was the superiority of their batting, together with their experience of home conditions, that allowed such an easy victory. Ravindu Shah was a worthy Man of the Match. 30 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2004