Kenyans score first victory

The touring Kenyan team scored the first victory of their fortnight long tour of India when they defeated Mumbai CA XI by seven wickets at the Brabourne stadium on Monday. The visitors had earlier lost to Tata SC in a one day match at Mumbai and then drew with Maharashtra CA XI in a two day game at Pune.

Put in to bat, the Mumbai side were dismissed for 153 in 47.1 overs. They never really recovered after opening bowlers Suji and Odoyo got rid of the first four batsman - A Rane, skipper Amit Pagnis, Sushant Manjrekar and Kiran Powar - with only 46 runs on the board. The middle order boosted the score a bit with A Dani at No 7 getting 32 and Mussavir Khote at No 8 scoring 26. The two put on 39 runs for the seventh wicket from 13 overs after six wickets had gone for 93 - the highest stand of the innings. Odoyo, Suji, Tikolo and Odumbe all took two wickets each.

It was far from smooth sailing for Kenya as they commenced their reply. Openers KO Otieno and RD Shah were out midway through the fifth over with only nine runs on the board. However HS Modi (19) and Steve Tikolo weathered the early storm by adding 50 runs for the third wicket off 13.4 overs. It was then left to the experienced duo of Tikolo and skipper Maurice Odumbe to apply the finishing touches with an unbeaten fourth wicket partnership of 97 runs off 16 overs. Tikolo hit 84 off 89 balls with nine fours and two sixes while Odumbe's 34 was compiled off 48 balls and included two hits to the ropes.