Tikolo stars for Kenya

Kenya are 208 for 6 at the end of the first day of their four-day match against the West Indies at the Mombasa Sports Ground on Thursday.

Kenya's most experienced batsman, thirty year-old Steve Tikolo, was the top scorer for the day against a tight West Indian pace attack. He reached 75, an innings which included eleven boundaries, before being bowled by Colin Stuart. His fourth wicket partnership of 86 with Hitesh Modi (36) was the centrepiece of the Kenyan innings.

Reon King was the most successful of the West Indian bowlers on Thursday, taking the wickets of the Otieno brothers, Kennedy and David. He finished the day with the figures of 2-30.

Thomas Odoyo (24) and Martin Suji (7) are the not-out batsmen overnight. Kenyan captain Maurice Odumbe was run out for 5, the result of an abortive attempt at a quick single. Neil McGarrell and David Mohammed were the remaining wicket-takers for the West Indies.

The Kenyans were sent into bat after acting West Indian captain Courtney Browne won the toss. Wicketkeeper Browne has taken over the captaincy for this game because of the unavailability through illness of tour captain Carl Hooper (influenza) and vice-captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul (high blood pressure).

This match is Kenya's first four-day game against a major Test entity. In recent years they have played first-class matches against 'A' teams from England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, while earlier this week they lost by an innings to the West Indies in a match scheduled for three days.

Kenya, who were admitted to permanent one-day international status in 1997, have lodged an application for Test status with the ICC, but it is expected to be several years before this is granted.