ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

UGANDA v KENYA This would probably have been Kenya’s home game in the 2005 tournament but, given that the equivalent fixture was switched from Kampala to Nairobi in 2004 and that Cricket Kenya had only just taken over responsibility for Kenyan cricket from the Kenyan Cricket Association, playing the match in Uganda seemed sensible. With the new body for Kenyan cricket in place, the players who had previously been in dispute with the KCA announced their availability for selection again. As a result, Kenya were at full strength. Batting first on winning the toss but in conditions which favoured pace bowling, Kenya were soon in difficulties as Kenneth Kamyuka, in a lively opening spell, disposed of David Obuya and Maurice Ouma with only nine runs on the board. Steve Tikolo and Kennedy Otieno played carefully to take the score to 95 when Otieno misjudged a ball from spinner Franco Nsubuga and offered a catch to the subsitute fielder. Tikolo and Hitesh Modi added 122 in a stand which proved crucial to the outcome of the match. These two were the only players on either side who, at any time in the match, looked secure at the crease. Once Modi’s obduracy was overcome – his 56 was made at a strike rate of 53.3 – Tikolo received limited support from Collins Obuya and Martin Suji to enable Kenya to post a more than competitive score. Tikolo made his runs at a strike rate of 70.6 with 60% coming in boundaries. Charles Waiswa bowled well to remove Kenya’s tail. Kenya finished the day strongly by taking three wickets whilst Uganda struggled to 37 runs. Although he did not get a wicket, Suji conceded only seven runs in nine overs. Uganda lost three further wickets cheaply on the second day before Lawrence Sematimba and Nsubuga slowly accumulated 69 runs for the seventh wicket. Sematimba achieved a strike rate of 43.1 and Nsubuga 46.8 as an indication of how difficult batting conditions were. Uganda offered little other resistance, however, and gave Kenya a first-innings lead of 153. Thomas Odoyo was the most successful of the Kenyan bowlers with five wickets for 34. Kenya were no more successful with the bat in the latter part of the day, losing six wickets by the close for only 85 runs of which Tikolo contributed 54 at a strike rate of 60.0. All Uganda’s bowlers were tidy and economical. Wickets continued to fall regularly on the third morning as Kenya lost their last four for only 31 more runs. This was enough to give Uganda a target of 270, which was well beyond their capability. Nor were any of their players able to stay in long enough to give even the chance of a draw. It was Lameck Onyango who did the damage, removing six of the middle order for only 21 runs from 12 overs. Although the ease of Kenya’s victory suggests a one-sided match, it was only the batting of Tikolo and Modi on the first day which marked the difference between the two teams. Steve Tikolo deservedly took the Man-of-the-Match award. In addition to his century, which was a class act under the conditions, he picked up two wickets and a catch. 50 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2005