E-mail this Article 
Print this Article 
Subscribe to RSS Feed tikolo reckons spin is the key
Tikolo - pleased with his spinners.
Kenya captain Steve Tikolo believes spin might be the key to success in Group C after watching his slow bowlers restrict Canada in the Africans' seven-wicket victory in St Lucia.
Put into bat by the veteran all-rounder, the Canadians started well before the three-pronged spin attack of Tikolo, Jimmy Kamande and Hiren Varaiya put the brakes on.
In total, the three recorded figures of five wickets for 78 runs as their opponents limped to 199 all out on the slow surface.
And Tikolo believes the opening match at Beausejour Stadium is a good indicator of what lies ahead for fellow Group C rivals England and New Zealand, who start their campaigns on Friday.
"We put up a very good show," he told Sky Sports. "I thought initially we gave away too many runs and then the spinners came in an stopped the run flow. It was a wonderful team effort.
"It (the pitch) didn't do too much for the seamers but the spinners were up to the job and did the job for us.
"Having seen the wicket during the warm-up games it looked slow and I though spinners might be a factor.
"We must take our momentum into the next game and if we play our best, who knows what might happen."
In reply to Canada's modest total, Tikolo (72) and wicketkeeper Maurice Ouma (58) were the heroes as Kenya cruised home with almost seven overs remaining.
Ouma claimed afterwards that the 2003 semi-finalists can now look forward to their tough assignments ahead with confidence.
"We had a plan and we did very well to restrict them to 200," he added.
"It was a good performance from us and good to see the team working as a unit.
"We have the three points in the bag now and we are really looking forward to the remaining two games."
Dejected Canada captain John Davison admitted the Kenyans had simply been too strong.
"We got everything wrong and Kenya outplayed us in every area of the game," he said.
"We lost our way when the spinners came on and they put a bit of pressure on us.
"We better get in the practice nets and scuff up some wickets because we have got some good spinners to play ahead of us."
"We have got to get together and work out how we are going to go about it because I think the pitch is going to be pretty similar."
Post to the Mailbox!
Be the first to post a comment on this story