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Kenya Power Past Canada to Keep Hopes Alive

DUBAI — Alex Obanda and Steve Tikolo powered Kenya to a nine-wicket victory over Canada in the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier at Dubai Sport City on Wednesday.

Kenya recovered well after suffering a shock 15-run defeat by UAE on the opening day in Abu Dhabi and kept their chances alive to reach the next round.

The defeat also ended Canada’s hopes of earning a ticket to the West Indies after it had lost to The Netherlands by six wickets on Tuesday.

Canada once again lost John Davison in the first over but recovered to reach 138-9 with captain Ashish Bagai top scoring on 36. Rizwan Chema (32), Geoffrey Barnett (30) chipped in with useful contributions.

The target proved too small for rampant Alex Obanda and Steve Tikolo who put on 126 runs for the first wicket off only 76 balls to lay the foundation of a convincing victory.

Obanda plundered 79 laced with 11 fours and a six with his half-century coming off only 23 balls. Obanda joins Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka, Chris Gayle of the West Indies and New Zealand’s Aaron Redmond who share the record for the quickest T20 international half-century from 23 balls. Tikolo hit five fours and a six in a 36-ball 50.

While the UAE has qualified from Group B, the winner from the Kenya and the Netherlands match in Abu Dhabi on Thursday will decide the other team that goes through to the Super Four stage.