Clippings: Minnows bat for themselves

DANIEL TOWN, Jamaica, March 9, 2007
Kenya captain Steve Tikoloand Netherlands' skipper Luuk van Troost hailed praised their sides after acompelling World Cup warm-up match which saw the Africans squeeze home by nineruns. Both men felt they had gained some measure of respect for the ICCAssociate nations attending the competition.
Van Troost believes the match wasa great advertisement for the non-Test playing nations which have come underfire from critics who believe they should not be taking part in the World Cup.
"Umpire Billy Bowden came up to me after the game and said 'you guys should playa lot more cricket' and that was very pleasing," he said. Tikolo, whotop-scored for his team and then took five wickets, added: "Both teams playedgood cricket and they stretched us to the last over and both sides produced goodindividual performances." Tikolo stole the spotlight with a handy all-rounddisplay which gave his side victory as they successfully defended a target of275. "It was a good performance from me and from the team to walk away withvictory," he said. "But I also want to recognise the other guys in the teamlike Thomas Odoyo, Tony Suji, and Collins Obuya that gave us a chance with theirbatting. It was a total team effort." Van Troost however, complained that hisbatsmen had let the side down again, after openers Bas Zuiderent and DarronReekers put on 142 for the first wicket. "We should have made those runs easy,"he said.
"We had enough balls and we had enough wickets in hand to get the jobdone. I am not happy with the way we batted. It happened in this match, and ithappened in a match that we played against Scotland during the World CricketLeague.
"It was the same situation and we lost it as well. I am not happy, andwe need to change that."Both sides are now looking forward to the group stageof the World Cup, where they are eyeing an upset victory or two over strongeropponents. The Netherlands play with reigning champions Australia, new WorldNo. 1 South Africa, and World Cricket League runners-up Scotland in Group A inSt. Kitts. Kenya have been drawn alongside England, New Zealand, and Canada inGroup C to be contested in St. Lucia.