Kenya ’s Thomas Odoyo and Hiren Varaiya reduced the Netherlands to 126 all out inside 43 overs on day one of the ICC Intercontinental Cup match at Amstelveen on Saturday, giving them the perfect start in what is a must-win game for the Africans.
Seamer Odoyo and left-arm spinner Varaiya took three wickets each as the Netherlands crumbl
ed after losing the toss and being asked to make first use of the track by Kenya captain Steve Tikolo.This is a severely weakened Dutch side thanks to work commitments, injury and other reasons with Nick Statham and Somesh Kohli being drafted into the squad as replacements and Rifaiz Bakas and Lesley Stokkers winning first-class debuts.
The Netherlands batsmen struggled to cope with the pace and accuracy of Odoyo and Peter Ongondo early on as Kenya made good use of the conditions. Indeed, the final total could have been worse as the Netherlands ’ disappointing start left it reeling on 33-5 and then 49-6. That it got to 126 at all represented a good effort by the Netherlands lower order.
Statham ended up top scoring for the home side with 29 and the only other innings of note were courtesy of Edgar Schiferli (27) and Mohammed Kashif (24 not out).
By the close, Kenya had progressed to 179-6 a first-innings lead of 53. Maurice Ouma is still there unbeaten on 56 and will be keen to make the Netherlands suffer as he attempts to build a big lead for his side when play resumes on day two.
ICC Intercontinental Cup (stumps – day one)
At Amstelveen
Toss: Kenya
Netherlands (first innings) 126 all out, 43.2 overs (Nick Statham 29, Edgar Schiferli 27, Mohammad Kashif (24 not out); Thomas Odoyo 3-16, Hiren Varaiya 3-53)
Kenya (first innings) 179-6, 50 overs (Maurice Ouma 56 not out)
Kenya leads by 53 runs
(Information supplied by CricketEurope)
The ICC Intercontinental Cup has quickly grown in stature and profile since its inception four years ago and now the ICC’s premier first-class tournament is an integral part of the Associate Members’ cricket schedule.
Having previously been designed around a two-group, three-day format, the event has evolved into an eight-team, round-robin and truly global tournament featuring four-day cricket which gives those teams who do not play Test cricket the chance to experience the longer form of the game.
Scotland won the first ICC Intercontinental Cup in 2004, beating Canada in the final, while Ireland has been victorious in both events since then, beating Kenya in the 2005 decider and Canada in the 2006-07 event.
The final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08 will take place in November 2008 at a venue yet to be confirmed.
ICC MEDIA RELEASE