Protests and Namibia check Kenya

Namibia 336 for 4 (Keulder 90, Snyman 58*, Kotze 53*, L Burger 50) v Kenya
Scorecard

Namibia ended the first day of their Intercontinental Cup match against Kenya at Nairobi's Aga Khan Club in a strong position. After being put in on a cloudy day by Hitesh Modi, Kenya's new captain, they closed on 336 for 4, with Gerrie Snyman and Deon Kotze both unbeaten with half-centuries.

Kenya's new-look side performed admirably considering that three days ago many of them were not expecting to be playing. The arrival of several of the players who had chosen to boycott the fixture after lunch was surprising, and the fielders were hardly helped by the incessant taunting of a group of about 30 spectators who blew whistles, jeered mistakes and, in between, called for the resignation of Sharad Ghai, the Kenyan board's chairman.

The morning belonged to Namibia who lost only one wicket - JB Burger trapped leg-before by Rageb Aga for 34 - in taking their score to 107, although the Kenyan bowlers stuck to a steady line and length.

Shortly after the break Lameck Onyango removed Stefaan Swanepoel for 26, courtesy of a superb diving catch by the wicketkeeper Abeed Janmohamed (115 for 2). Janmohamed, making his debut, had only arrived in Nairobi at 6.30am after an overnight flight from London.

Namibia took control of almost all the remainder of the session, with Daniel Keulder (90) and Louis Burger (50) putting on 96 for the third wicket. But Kenya hit back as tea approached with two strikes in as many overs. Janmohamed completed a neat leg-side stumping off Rajesh Bhudia to remove Keulder, and then Burger was caught by Onyango off Kalpesh Patel.

But in the final session Kenya flagged, and Snyman and Kotze batted Namibia into a strong position.