The Kenya captain believes his team can deny England a place in the World Cup Super Eights when the sides go head-to-head for a qualification spot on Saturday.
GROS ISLET: Kenya captain Steve Tikolo believes his team can deny England a place in the World Cup Super Eights when the sides go head-to-head for a qualification spot on Saturday despite his side’s 148-run defeat by New Zealand.
The Black Caps are assured of a place in the second phase as the only side currently in Group C with two wins following their six-wicket success first time out against England.
England and Kenya, who have both beaten Canada, now face a winner-takes-all clash this weekend. Tikolo, who four years ago saw his side beat 1996 champions Sri Lanka on their way to the semi-finals, said Kenya could upset the odds against an England side that looked far from convincing in a 51-run win against Canada. “Our chances are good,” said Kenya’s star batsman.
“All teams in this competition are here to win their matches. Our chances are good if we do the basic things right.”
But he admitted Kenya would have to up their game after what he said was a “disappointing” performance against New Zealand where the match was effectively over at the half-way stage after the Black Caps had piled up 331 for seven — a record for a one-day international at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.
“We know we are capable of doing better but credit to the New Zealanders, they played a good game,” Tikolo said. “In the field, we dropped a number of catches and missed run-out chances.
“If we would have taken those, it would have been a different story. New Zealand wouldn’t have got 331. Our running between the wickets wasn’t as good as it should be and obviously batting wise up front we need to get a start,” added Tikolo who only managed seven as Kenya were bowled out for 183 with four balls to spare.
One solace for the Africans was the form of opener Ravindu Shah, who made 71 off 89 balls with two sixes and eight fours before he was caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori.
Scorecard
New Zealand: 331-7
Kenya: M Ouma run out 4, D Obuya lbw b Mason 1, R Shah c & b Vettori 71, S Tikolo c Vettori b Mason 7, T Mishra c Fleming b Franklin 2, C Obuya run out 21, T Odoyo c Oram b Bond 42, J Kamande b Vettori 12, L Onyango run out 6, P Ongondo c & b Franklin 4, H Varaiya not out 1
Extras (lb2 w2 nb8) 12
Total (all out, 49.2 overs) 183
Fall of wickets: 1-4 2-8 3-26 4-29 5-76 6-122 7-149 8-167 9-179
Bowling: Mason 9-0-29-2, Bond 8-2-19-1, Franklin 7.2-2-20-2, McMillan 10-0-39-0, Vettori 10-0-45-2, Oram 5-0-29-0. Result: New Zealand won by 148 runs
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