Kenya secured a second decisive victory in the World Cricket League on Wednesday, dismissing The Netherlands for 131 and then knocking off the runs in 32.1 overs for the loss of just three wickets.
With the wicket green and the outfield damp from overnight rain it was a crucial toss to win, and Kenyan skipper Steve Tikolo gave his side a huge advantage by calling correctly and electing to field first, a decision which his bowlers amply justified. The Dutch batsmen were never able to get on top, from the moment Thomas Odoyo had Darron Reekers well caught by Tikolo at second slip in the third over.
Bas Zuiderent followed in Odoyo's next, trapped leg before, and when Peter Ongondo dismissed Dutch danger man Ryan ten Doeschate and Alexei Kervezee in the same over, The Netherlands were reduced to 40 for four and in deep trouble.
Odoyo and Ongondo bowled with considerable life, getting plenty of movement in the overcast conditions, and none of the Dutch batsmen looked completely comfortable. Daan van Bunge anchored the innings despite feeling unwell, but he was eventually bowled by Hiren Varaiya when he had made 29 (from 53 balls), making the score 75 for six.
Odoyo had returned to pick up a third wicket, de Leede edging to Tikolo, and the captain himself then removed his opposite number with the total on 87. Varaiya took a sharp caught-and-bowled chance to dismiss Adeel Raja, and the Dutch were still short of the hundred.
Billy Stelling and Jeroen Smits added 32 for the ninth wicket, however, in the highest partnership of the innings, before Jimmy Kamande came on and bowled Stelling for 24. Smits batted well for his 19 not out, but a smart piece of fielding by Kamande at backward square leg accounted for Edgar Schiferli and brought the innings to a close.
The Kenyan bowlers all performed well, backed up by sharp fielding. The spinners in particular kept the batsmen firmly under control, with Varaiya conceding just 19 runs in an excellent spell of ten overs.
By the time the Kenyans batted conditions had improved considerably for batting, and Maurice Ouma and David Obuya started off at a rapid pace. They put on 88 for the first wicket, and when Ouma was caught leg before by Tim de Leede Kenya were well on the way to victory.
Obuya soon followed, leg before to Adeel Raja, and then de Leede had Ravindu Shah caught at slip by Stelling. But Tikolo and Tanmay Mishra saw their side safely through to victory.
Man of the Match Maurice Ouma acknowledged that it had been a vital toss to win.
'The ball was moving around too much early on,' he said, 'but Thomas Odoyo and Peter Ongondo put the ball in the right areas to take full advantage of the conditions.
'We're looking really good, and we're looking to build on what we've done so far and go on to win all out matches, including the final.'
It will take a fine performance to upset the Kenyans in their present form and they will face Ireland on Friday full of confidence. For the Dutch, Friday brings another tough challenge, in the form of Scotland.