By Oscar Pilipili
Kenya captain Steve Tikolo is looking forward to a bright start as they face Netherlands in their opening match of the ICC World Cup Qualifier in South Africa.
"Our first target is to start the competition on a positive note, we want to win the first game and plan for the rest as they come," the veteran captain told FeverPitch yesterday.
Kenya beat Scotland by seven runs in their warm-up match that was played at Willowmoore Park B Field in Benoni last Monday.
As for the results, Tikolo said: "Despite the fact that it was a slim win, the victory has boosted the team’s morale as we prepare to face Netherlands tomorrow."
READ MORE
Yemen's Houthis declare 'total ban' on Israeli ships in Red Sea
As climate shifts, malaria gains ground in southern Africa
Nigerian mega-highway faces down rising seas, protected forests
"The match helped us to identify weak points that we should rectify before the main game," he said.
During the match, Kenya recorded 243 runs for a loss of nine wickets in maximum overs and Scotland were all out at 236.
Tikolo hit 46 runs with wicketkeeper Maurice Ouma contributing 35 and Collins Obuya 45. Spin bowler Hiren Varaiya starred in Kenya’s bowling claiming three wickets for 28 runs in 5.3 overs.
Tikolo said: "The team has gone through high level training and all the departments are functioning well."
He further said all the players were in good shape and ready to take Kenya to the 2011 World Cup.
Netherlands recorded an inspiring 38-run win against Canada in their warm-up match at Benoni, also last Monday.
The Dutch were 305-8 after their maximum overs while Canada were removed at 267-10 in 44.4 overs.
Kenya and Netherlands are not new to each other, as they have met several times.
Their last meeting was at the ICC Intercontinental Cup that Kenya won over two days in Netherlands last August.
Batsmen to watch in the Netherlands team are RN ten Doeschate who hit steady 72 runs against Canada and opener AN Kervezee and B Zuiderent who mustered 63 runs apiece in the match. Nairobi Gymkhana hosted the first ever ICC World Cup Qualifiers outside Europe in 1993-94.
The top three teams— UAE, Kenya and Netherlands qualified for the 1996 World Cup.
