Very little went right for Bermuda yesterday as Kenya capitalised on winning the toss and inserting their opponents with an incisive spell from Peter Ongondo that ripped through the Bermudan top order. He induced nicks of both Stephen Outerbridge, caught by Tikolo at second slip for two and then Irving Romaine caught behind, also for two, before clean bowling Jekon Edness for 12 to have Bermuda reeling at 3/27.

Hemp and Celestine did not last much longer as Lameck Onyango continued his good form and Bermuda were really struggling with 5 wickets down for only 51 after 17 overs. Lionel Cann and Janeiro Tucker showed some grit by adding 61 for the sixth wicket before Jimmy Kamande had Tucker caught by Tikolo for 18 trying to hit Bermuda out of trouble. Cann persisted to attack and was rewarded with his half century, but then he too fell, clean bowled by Kamande for 52 off only 32 balls after coming forward once to often and missing the flight.

At 123/7 Bermuda looked as though they would struggle to make 150, but some clean hitting by Rodney Trott (22*) and Malachi Jones (21) at least gave Bermuda some respectability, the youngsters looking much better than some of their older team mates up the order. They put on 37 for the ninth wicket, but once Jones was run out by Collins Obuya, the innings folded and Kenya were set 175 to win.

Bermuda were given some hope early on in Kenya’s chase when opener David Obuya was hit low in front by Kevin hurdle and made his way back to the pavilion for a golden duck with the score on 1. It was to be the first of only two wickets for the visitors as first Maurice Ouma and then Steve Tikolo teamed up with nineteen year old Alex Obanda to steer Kenya to an easy victory.

Both Ouma and Obanda batted aggressively, Obanda especially devastating on the front foot and Kenya’s 100 came up in just 98 balls as the youngster registered his second consecutive half century. Ouma came unstuck soon after when he failed to read the spin of Rodney Trott and was clean bowled for a crisp 46, but by then Kenya were well in the driving seat and it was only a case of what the margin of victory would be and how long it would be in coming.

Steve Tikolo used the opportunity to spend time in the middle and blasted his was back into form with a quick 42 at over a run a ball. Obanda stuck firm at the other end and it was fitting that he hit the winning runs to finish unbeaten on 79 off just 82 deliveries. Tikolo and Obanda at the crease was a nice combination of Kenya’s most experienced player and one of the key players of the future and was a sight that would certainly have warmed the hearts of Kenyan fans watching. Tikolo becomes the first Kenyan player to play 100 ODIs on Saturday and his fans will be hoping that he can come up with a similar performance in that game now he has got his eye in.

Kenya needed only 28.2 overs to complete their win and maintain their momentum going into the back to back games on the weekend. Bermuda continue to struggle and will have to turn things around fast if they are going to salvage something from this tour.