Tikolo sets up tight Kenya success

Kenya 274 for 8 (Odoyo 71, Tikolo 51, van Bunge 3-41) beat The Netherlands 265 for 9 (Reekers 75, Zuiderent 65, ten Doeschate 50, Tikolo 5-48) by 9 runs
Scorecard

Steve Tikolo led from the front with five wickets and a half-century as he guided Kenya to a narrow nine-run win over The Netherlands in Jamaica. The captain Tikolo helped his side recover from early trouble with 51 on the way to a healthy total of 274 for 8 and he stepped in with 5 for 48 when his opponents threatened to steal the game.

Each of The Netherlands' top three reached half-centuries to give them a strong chance of victory, but Tikolo made sure they fell short at 265 for 9. The Netherlands started well when Darron Reekers and Bas Zuiderent put on 142 for the first wicket at almost five an over. Reekers collected 75 and Zuiderent posted 65 to lay the platform, which Ryan ten Doeschate built on with 50 off 46 balls.

However, when ten Doeschate was run-out in the 48th over the innings went into freefall and in the scramble for another 19 runs they lost four wickets. After removing Reekers, Tikolo's offspin took care of Daan van Bunge (23) and Peter Borren (22) before finishing his haul by knocking over Billy Stelling and Luuk van Troost.

Sent in to bat, Kenya slumped to 21 for 3 when David Obuya was caught-and-bowled to become Mark Jonkman's second wicket. However, Tikolo and Tony Suji (47) were able to move them to safety in an important 104-run partnership.

When Tikolo and Suji fell within nine runs and Tanmay Mishra departed at 141 for 6 - van Bunge picked up three wickets in three overs - it seemed as though The Netherlands would have a comfortable chase. Their plans were shattered when Thomas Odoyo, the No. 7, thumped an innings-high 73, which was finally ended by van Troost, whose eventful final over cost 24. Odoyo, who faced only 49 balls and hit four sixes, contributed in valuable stands of 62 with Collins Obuya and 71 with Jimmy Kamande.