Tikolo century puts Kenya on top

Canada 14 for 2 trail Kenya (Tikolo 158, Obanda 36, Osinde 3-28) by 313 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary

Steve Tikolo's century and a double strike at the top of Canada's innings put Kenya in a strong position at the end of the first day's play in the ICC Intercontinental Cup match in King City.

The innings began on the wrong note for Kenya who, after electing to bat, lost both openers for 27. Tikolo took on the task of rebuilding the innings and had two good partnerships, 53 with Alex Obanda for the third wicket and 116 with Maurice Ouma for the fourth. Ouma fell lbw to an arm ball from left-arm spinner Sunil Dhaniram, and the batsman did not seem too happy with the decision. Tikolo ran out of partners after Ouma's dismissal and couldn't forge any meaningful stands with the lower order. Jimmy Kamande, however, chipped in with 26 to give Tikolo company towards the end of the innings.

He was the ninth wicket to fall and Kenya were eventually bowled out for 317, with Tikolo scoring almost exactly half the runs. Canada deployed eight bowlers, primarily in an effort to remove Tikolo, and it was new-ball bowler Henry Osinde who stood out with three wickets, including that of Tikolo out caught behind.

Canada had six overs to bat until stumps but got off to a poor start when opener Jimmy Hansra fell in the second ball of the innings, caught at second slip off Thomas Odoyo. Things got worse when his partner Rizwan Cheema was dismissed for six in the fifth over, to leave Canada at 14 for 2 at close.