October 18, 2001	Thursday	Rajab 30, 1422

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PORT ELIZABETH (South Africa), Oct 17: Sparked by a century opening partnership between Kennedy Otieno and Ravindu Shah, Kenya made a respectable 246 for six in their triangular limited overs series day-night match against India at St George’s Park Wednesday.

Kenya, bowled out for 90 when the sides met in Bloemfontein Friday, could have done even better but they lost their way in the last eight overs of the innings when they lost four wickets for 43 runs.

It was nevertheless a fine performance by a team who suffered a double blow Tuesday when their captain, Maurice Odumbe, was banned for two matches, and their manager, Mehmood Quraishy, was taken to hospital with a heart ailment.

India rested both their regular opening bowlers, Javagal Srinath and Ajit Agarkar and the Kenyan opening batsmen made an ideal start after stand-in captain Steve Tikolo won the toss and decided to bat on a good pitch in windy conditions.

Shah, who made 55 against South Africa in Kimberley Sunday, again played a cultured innings, making 50 off 75 balls with five fours. But it was his partner, Otieno, who provided the fireworks, hitting three sixes and six fours in scoring 64 off 95 balls.

The pair put on 121 for the first wicket before Otieno hit a towering catch to long-off in the 28th over. Shah was out in the next over, when he lapped off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to backward square leg.

It was a critical time for the Kenyans but Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo put on 80 in 14 overs with Odoyo slamming 51 off 50 balls with six fours and a six.

Odoyo, 23, who made his first international half-century in 39 matches against South Africa Sunday, repeated the feat before holing out to deep midwicket.

Tikolo was more subdued, making 27 off 42 balls.

The Kenyan batsmen struggled against the spin of Harbhajan and Anil Kumble in the last 10 overs, although David Otieno made a hard-hit 26.