After starting the year off in the worst possible way with the outright loss to Scotland in the Intercontinental Cup, Kenya have bounced back in the best possible way with a convincing 4-0 win in the 20-20 tri-series with Scotland and Uganda. Given that as little as two months ago, victory in any 20-20 game looked remote indeed as Kenya hosted and lost to Uganda 3-0, the emphatic nature of the series win has got to have boosted confidence ahead of this week’s World Cup Qualifiers in the UAE.
In Kenya’s first match, Maurice Ouma won the toss and elected to field. Uganda started belligerently scoring 30 off the first 10 overs before Nehemiah Odhiambo struck and from then on, Kenya looked in control of the match. Wickets fell at regular intervals with four of the Kenyan bowlers each picking up a brace as Uganda set a target of 123/9 off their overs. Though Nehemiah Odhiambo, newly promoted to opening the bowling in the absence of Odoyo and Ongondo took the book-end wickets, it was the spin department, especially Hiren Varaiya (4-1-9-2) who really impressed.
Kenya’s run chase was lead by a new opening pair of Steve Tikolo and David Obuya and it was an experiment that proved a resounding success every time. The pair put on 66 for the first wicket (Obuya for 24), and Tikolo went on to set a new Personal Best as he marched to 63 off just 44 deliveries to bring Kenya within touching distance of victory. Maurice Ouma (2*) and Alex Obanda (31*), himself hitting a PB of his own did the rest and the 3-0 series loss in December was part way towards being avenged.
Kenya’s second match should have seen stiffer competition in the form of Scotland, but the visitors were clearly unable to reproduce their form from the Intercontinental Cup as Kenya first restricted them to 109/9 – again with the spinners doing the damage: Shem Obado impressing in his first International graded match with figures of 4-0-10-2 while jimmy Kamande picked up 3/28.
Again Tikolo (46 off 28) and David Obuya (60 off 48) opened and again, it proved to be a masterstroke from Eldine Baptise as the pair raced Kenya to a 10 wicket win inside 13 overs. If you include Obado’s figures on debut, it was Personal Bests for four of Kenya’s players.
Kenya’s third match saw them bat first for the first and only time in the tournament and with Tikolo rested, Obanda moved up the order to join David Obuya (18) as opener. It proved to be a position he enjoyed as he made a new Personal Best of 43 off 24 to set up the rest of the line up for a big total. Maurice Ouma (39) and Collins Obuya (79* off 45) duly added their names to the list of Personal record breakers as Kenya went on to set a daunting 186 – easily the biggest total of the tournament.
Credit to Uganda who stuck to their guns in the run chase and for a while looked as though they might cause an unlikely upset. Another Kenyan debutante for the series, Nelson Odhiambo proved the difference in the bowling however as he ripped through the middle of the Ugandan innings to take 4/25 including the wicket of the dangerous looking Roger Mukasa (66). Tony suji chipped in with 2/25 and Jimmy Kamande executed two brilliant run outs to ensure Kenya finished victors by 14 runs.
Kenya’s second match against Scotland was very similar in result to their first, but it was yet another personal best and astonishing bowling performance from Nehemiah Odhiambo who took 5/25 as Kenya bowled out their visitors for 123. It is only the second time a player has taken 5 wickets in a full 20-20 international and a huge achievement for the player on whose shoulders the main bowling responsibility for Kenya now rests. Nelson Odhiambo also picked up 2 wickets while suicidal run outs accounted for the rest.
Again it was the Tikolo-Obuya show in reply and the two raced neck-a-neck to their 50s. Obuya (65* off 47) won that race by just one ball, but then continued to set yet another Personal Best at this level while Tikolo’s 56* off 42 was also a new personal record as again Kenya ran out winners by 10 wickets, this time with five and a half overs to spare. Note that the matches vs. Uganda were graded Twenty20 by the ICC whereas the matches vs. Scotland were graded T20Is.
All in all, the series was a great achievement for Kenya in the warm ups to the WC Qualifiers, but it is that fact that should remain as a stark reminder that the real work is yet to be done. Kenya play Scotland again today in a final warm up in Abu Dhabi, and on this form, should win again, but it will all count for naught if they do not get through to the final two in the qualifying tournament. If the players can continue to produce Personal Bests at this rate though, that should be a distinct possibility.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Cricket Kenya CEO position advertisment
CRICKET KENYA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Cricket Kenya (CK) seeks to appoint on a fixed term basis, an experienced, dynamic and energetic individual as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead and manage its activities up to and beyond the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
The successful candidate will report to the CK Board and will implement and spearhead the overall vision and strategic direction of CK’s cricket and commercial operations. The position carries an attractive salary package with benefits commensurate with experience.
The CEO will be a non-executive member of the Board and will, on a day to day basis, be responsible to, and work closely with, the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Hon Treasurer of the CK Board (“the office bearers”).
The CEO would be responsible for delivering in the following key duties:
- Overall responsibility for the day to day administration and financial activities of CK in conjunction with the office bearers and other members of staff
- Effective corporate governance and compliance with statutory requirements
- Strategic Planning, managing, implementation and regular overviews of business planning and long term strategies
- Development planning and youth and women’s programmes
- Financial performance, management and accountability including preparation of Annual Reports, Budgets and Funding Reports.
- Administration and arrangements of CK AGM, Board and Council Meetings.
- Responsibility for developing CK’s organisation, overseeing performance and conduct of all CK staff and regular preparation of all staff appraisals.
- Overseeing all marketing, fund-raising, communication and promotional activities and identifying sponsorship and other funding activities.
- Management of assets and facilities, activities and events
- National Team affairs
- Management of relations with the International Cricket Council (ICC), African Cricket Association (ACA) and other related sporting bodies
- Industrial relations, taxation and employee affairs
- Promotion of CK’s profile with ICC, sponsors, media and all key stakeholders
The CEO should have the following skills and competencies:
- Sound knowledge of information and computer technology
- Tertiary qualification, preferably degree level or equivalent.
- Minimum of 5 years in a senior Management level position preferably with financial and commercial experience
- Be an analytical and creative manager with strong leadership skills who works well under pressure
- Experience in sport, particularly cricket administration, would be advantageous
- Excellent business acumen, interpersonal and project management skills
Applications should include a covering letter and a detailed resume together with the names and contact details of three referees. The covering letter should address how your experience and skills meet the main duties above. Applications should also provide an indication of when the applicant would be available to commence but this would not preclude anyone with the right credentials from being considered. Further details may be requested by CK at a later date. Applications, by email only, should be received by close of business on Friday 19th February 2010 to:
Samir Inamdar Barbara Kokonya
Chairman Administration Manager
Cricket
inamdar@africaonline.co.ke barbara.kokonya@cricketkenya.co.ke
PLEASE NOTE: Only short listed candidates will be contacted and if you have not been contacted by Friday 26th February, please be advised that your application was not successful.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Comprehensive Revenge
Kenya registered their first international win of 2010 with a comprehensive 8 wicket win over Uganda in he first 20-20 match at Nairobi Gymkhana earlier today.
Winning the toss, Maurice Ouma opted to field and was rewarded with a tidy effort from his bowlers who restricted Uganda to 123/9 in their 20 overs. Things started well enough for Uganda who raced out of the blocks at 10 an over before Nehemiah Odhiambo, who had been bearing the brunt of the onslaught had Arthur Kyobe trapped in front for 6 (Uganda 31/1). Just 2 balls later, Jimmy Kamande removed the explosive Roger Mukasa and Kenya were suddenly looking good.
From then on, it was a fairly regular procession back to the pavilion for the Ugandan batsmen as Odhiambo, Kamande, Varaiya and Obado all chipped in with 2 wickets a piece. Varaiya was Particularly impressive as he also conceded just 9 runs off his 4 overs - his second personal best in as many games. So far he is proving the form player for Kenya in 2010.
Kenya's reply saw a change in the batting line up with Steve Tikolo opening with recalled David Obuya. It proved to be a good decision as the pair raced to 66 before Obuya was out caught by Baig off Arinaitwe for 24. Tikolo continued the onslaught unfazed and was rewarded with his first international 50 at the shortest format of the game. He did later become the second and last Kenyan casualty as he finally holed out to Thawithemwira off Muhumuza, but by then he had made 63 off just 44 deliveries and Kenya were as good as home.
Maurice Ouma came in to join Alex Obanda who was en route to a personal best of his own with 31 off 24 deliveries including the winning runs which came as he dispatched Muhumuza to the boundary with 16 balls still remaining. It was a convincing and emphatic victory for a side that lost their last 20-20 series to Uganda 3-0 and will have injected some much needed confidence into the side after the recent Intercontinental Cup match to Scotland. It also indicates a vast improvement at this format which bodes well ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in February.
Kenya 127/2 (Tikolo 63, Obanda 31*)
beat
Uganda 123/9 (Baig 23, Mukasa 23, Varaiya 2/9, Kamande 2/18)
by 8 wickets
Winning the toss, Maurice Ouma opted to field and was rewarded with a tidy effort from his bowlers who restricted Uganda to 123/9 in their 20 overs. Things started well enough for Uganda who raced out of the blocks at 10 an over before Nehemiah Odhiambo, who had been bearing the brunt of the onslaught had Arthur Kyobe trapped in front for 6 (Uganda 31/1). Just 2 balls later, Jimmy Kamande removed the explosive Roger Mukasa and Kenya were suddenly looking good.
From then on, it was a fairly regular procession back to the pavilion for the Ugandan batsmen as Odhiambo, Kamande, Varaiya and Obado all chipped in with 2 wickets a piece. Varaiya was Particularly impressive as he also conceded just 9 runs off his 4 overs - his second personal best in as many games. So far he is proving the form player for Kenya in 2010.
Kenya's reply saw a change in the batting line up with Steve Tikolo opening with recalled David Obuya. It proved to be a good decision as the pair raced to 66 before Obuya was out caught by Baig off Arinaitwe for 24. Tikolo continued the onslaught unfazed and was rewarded with his first international 50 at the shortest format of the game. He did later become the second and last Kenyan casualty as he finally holed out to Thawithemwira off Muhumuza, but by then he had made 63 off just 44 deliveries and Kenya were as good as home.
Maurice Ouma came in to join Alex Obanda who was en route to a personal best of his own with 31 off 24 deliveries including the winning runs which came as he dispatched Muhumuza to the boundary with 16 balls still remaining. It was a convincing and emphatic victory for a side that lost their last 20-20 series to Uganda 3-0 and will have injected some much needed confidence into the side after the recent Intercontinental Cup match to Scotland. It also indicates a vast improvement at this format which bodes well ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in February.
Kenya 127/2 (Tikolo 63, Obanda 31*)
beat
Uganda 123/9 (Baig 23, Mukasa 23, Varaiya 2/9, Kamande 2/18)
by 8 wickets
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Valiant effort could not erase the debacle of Day 1
Kenya's copmetetive start to the cricketing year got off to a disasterous start as the team crumbled to 91 all out on the first day of the Intercontinental Cup match versus top of the table Scotland. Only 2 of the Kenyan batsmen Maurice Omua (20) and Collins Obuya (40) made it into double figures as the Scottish seamers ran rampant. It was a collapse that Kenya were to try valiantly to recover from throughout the rest of the match, but the damage had already been done.
Scotland's first innings produced 306 runs, but in truth the bulk of these also came from 2 batsmen: Qasim Sheikh who made 108 and Richie Berrington who contributed 80. Nehemiah Odhiambo spearheading the Kenyan attack took 3/60 and Elijah Otieno chipped in with 2/46 as Kenya toiled hard to get back into the game. Wickets from the usual areas in the spin department (Varaiya 1/38, Tikolo 1/45 and Kamande 2/31) helped the cause, but Scotland were very much in the ascendancy at the half way point with a lead of 185 over Kenya who had already lost Seren Waters not long before stumps.
Hiren Varaiya (pictured) was sent in as night watchman and played the part to perfection. Not only did he survive to stumps but batted on for the best part of day 3 as Kenya slowly but surely eroded the deficit. He faced a massive 237 balls for his career best 44 and though Collins Obuya (38) and Steve Tikolo (34) added quicker runs, it was his effort that provided the glue for Kenya's innings. Overtaking Scotland and setting a target needed someone to step up and make a big score and it was the Kenyan Captain, Maurice Ouma, who did just that making a career best 130 as Kenya set Scotland 109 to win on the final day.
Despite the 3 personal bests produced by the Kenyans in the second innings (Elijah Otieno also chipped in with 13 in a 51 run partnership with Ouma for the 8th wicket, it was never going to be enough and Scotland eased to victory with 8 wickets to spare.
Defeat is never easy to take and Kenya will certainly not be happy with allowing Scotland to take the full 20 points on Kenyan soil, but they should also take heart from how they continued to fight throughout the last 3 days. If the first innings was an illustration of all that is wrong with the Kenyan game - poor shot selection, a questionable line up and complete lack of application, the rest of the game highlighted the great spirit that this team has and produced some fine performances. Both Varaiya and Ouma played the innings of their lives to date and should gain great confidence from them. Collins Obuya showed his potential in both innings, Nehemiah Odhiambo bowled well for his 3 wickets and James Ngoche had a good spell for his maiden First Class wicket on the final day.
Question marks will remain over the team selection - Thomas Odoyo was ruled out at the time of squad selection due to injury, but was able to turn out for southern Rocks at the same time Kenya were playing Scotland. Word from Cricket Kenya is that the coach was unwilling to bank on a player that had broken down early in series before when not fully fit, but in hindsight, Kenya could have done with his talent with both bat and ball. He will surely be missed in the 20-20 World Cup Qualifiers. Peter Ongondo was also left out and while Nelson Mandela toiled hard, he perhaps looked underdone for this level of cricket. His time will come, but it does not look to be here yet.
Jimmy Kamande's spot as vice captain is also open to question as failures in both innings certainly did not help his team's cause, though as usual he bowled well. Shem Obado may well get a run in his place for the 20-20s, though who will be name vice captain is open to conjecture. James Ngoche bowled well in the second innings, but with Varaiya and Tikolo both able to offer proven spin options, perhaps an extra seam option could also have been preferred. Certainly it is odd that Luseno was included in the squad for just the Intercontinental Cup, but despite his pace, not used.
Today sees Kenya take on Uganda in the first match of the 20-20 triangular tournament and the hosts will be hoping for revenge from the 3-0 whitewash inflicted at the end of last year. Lets hope it is the 2nd innings mentality that is brought to the game, not the 1st.
More photos of the IC match will be posted on facebook shortly.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Big game for Kenya starts today
Kenya take on Scotland from today at Nairobi Gymkhana in what has become a must win match for the home side if they are to stay in contention for a finals spot come the end of the competition. Yesterday Afghanistan defeated Ireland – their first loss in the tournament since 2004 – to go top of the table with 43 points and Kenya must look to take a full 20 points to match this having already played one extra game.
Rain has hampered preparations for Maurice Ouma’s men, but they will still take the home ground advantage into the match and on balance will be the more experienced of the two sides that take the field. An exception to this, and it could be a telling one, is in the seam bowl department where for the first time in many years, Kenya will be without either Thomas Odoyo (injured) and Peter Ongondo (left out of the squad).
This leaves the seam responsibilities to Alfred Luseno, Elijah Otieno and Nehemiah Odhiambo. It is certainly an attack that has shown improvement over the last 12 months and especially since new coach Eldine Baptiste took the reigns, but will it have the experience to knock over the Scottish top order? Should they fail to do so, at least there is plenty of experience and quality in the spin attack that should feature all of Hiren Varaiya, Jimmy Kamande and Steve Tikolo, though youngster James Ngoche may also get a surprise cap.
With the bat, Kenya should have the quality to post big scores on a ground the batsmen are used to playing on. Seren Waters, David Obuya, Rakep Patel and Alex Obanda will all feel they have things to prove while Steve Tikolo has shown time and again he remains a star batsman.
Scotland come into the game with a relatively inexperienced side, several of whom have not yet played in Kenya so the home side will be hoping to turn this to their advantage and put on early pressure. While they do not have the experience, there is no doubting the quality in the Scotland camp and they too will start today looking for a win. Majid Haq, Kyle Coetzer and Qasim Sheikh are all potential match winners on their day and Scotland too have high aspirations this year in a competition they last won in 2004.
Weather permitting, it should turn out to be a great match. There has been some build up among Kenyan cricket fans and despite the match happening on work days – why they could not have scheduled the start for a Sunday, only the ICC know – there should be a few supporters at the ground to cheer their team on. Here’s hoping that 2010 gets off to a better start for Kenyan cricket the previous year…
Rain has hampered preparations for Maurice Ouma’s men, but they will still take the home ground advantage into the match and on balance will be the more experienced of the two sides that take the field. An exception to this, and it could be a telling one, is in the seam bowl department where for the first time in many years, Kenya will be without either Thomas Odoyo (injured) and Peter Ongondo (left out of the squad).
This leaves the seam responsibilities to Alfred Luseno, Elijah Otieno and Nehemiah Odhiambo. It is certainly an attack that has shown improvement over the last 12 months and especially since new coach Eldine Baptiste took the reigns, but will it have the experience to knock over the Scottish top order? Should they fail to do so, at least there is plenty of experience and quality in the spin attack that should feature all of Hiren Varaiya, Jimmy Kamande and Steve Tikolo, though youngster James Ngoche may also get a surprise cap.
With the bat, Kenya should have the quality to post big scores on a ground the batsmen are used to playing on. Seren Waters, David Obuya, Rakep Patel and Alex Obanda will all feel they have things to prove while Steve Tikolo has shown time and again he remains a star batsman.
Scotland come into the game with a relatively inexperienced side, several of whom have not yet played in Kenya so the home side will be hoping to turn this to their advantage and put on early pressure. While they do not have the experience, there is no doubting the quality in the Scotland camp and they too will start today looking for a win. Majid Haq, Kyle Coetzer and Qasim Sheikh are all potential match winners on their day and Scotland too have high aspirations this year in a competition they last won in 2004.
Weather permitting, it should turn out to be a great match. There has been some build up among Kenyan cricket fans and despite the match happening on work days – why they could not have scheduled the start for a Sunday, only the ICC know – there should be a few supporters at the ground to cheer their team on. Here’s hoping that 2010 gets off to a better start for Kenyan cricket the previous year…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
