Kenya halts its losing streak

By Mohandas Menon

** This was Kenya's eighth LOI win in 41 matches. It has now won on five occasions against Bangladesh, twice against India and once against the West Indies. Kenya had beaten India by 69 runs at Gwalior on 28-5-1998.

** Kenya finally managed to stop its losing streak by registering its first win since its last in March 1999. Prior to this the team had lost 16 matches in a row.

** Kenya was without Maurice Odumbe for the first time since its entry into international cricket in February 1996. He was missing his first match after playing 40 matches in a row. Steve Tikolo is now the only player to appear in all the 41 matches for Kenya since inception.

** Meanwhile Tikolo became the third Kenyan to lead the side in LOIs after Aasif Karim (21 matches) and Odumbe (19).

** The 121 run partnership between Kennedy Obuya and Ravindu Shah was Kenya's second best for the first wicket after the 225 runs put on by Kennedy Obuya and Dipak Chudasama against Bangladesh at Nairobi on 10-10-1997.

** The partnership was however, Kenya's best for any wicket against India. The previous best was the 118 between Kennedy Obuya and Steve Tikolo for the third wicket at Bristol on 23-5- 1999.

** It was also Kenya's best for the first wicket against India bettering the 41 between Chudasama and K Obuya in their first ever LOI match in the 1999 World Cup match at Cuttack on 18-2- 1996.

** The partnership of 37 runs between Harbhajan Singh and Venkatesh Prasad was the best for the 9th wicket at this venue. The pair obliterates the previous best of 32 between another India pair of Kiran More and Anil Kumble against the home team on 9-12-1992.

** Harbhajan's 37 was the highest score made by a batsman while batting at number nine against Kenya. The previous best was the unbeaten 29 by Sri Lankan Chaminda Vaas at Southampton on 30-5- 1999.

** India's total of 176 was its lowest against Kenya. The previous lowest was the 196 it made at Gwalior on 28-5-1998.

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