Kenya took the match out of Canada's reach on day 3 in King City as a 330 run 3rd wicket
partnership gave them a truly massive lead - and left the home side with a lot of work to do to
earn a draw.
After a decent start for the visitors, Canada struck twice during the first hour of play. First David Obuya was caught by wicketkeeper Ashish Bagai off a deflection from a slip fielder, then Alex Obanda edged to Rizwan Cheema in the slips, and Kenya were 32 for 2. Canada's fielders were excited, their bowlers were fired up, and it looked like there may be a comeback on the cards. Enter Steve Tikolo. Once again the former captain steadied the Kenyan innings and built a partnership with Seren waters that would last until lunch time, bringing the score on to 112 for 2 when the break was taken.
Their innings were not without chances for the Canadian fielders. Waters was absolutely dropped by Bagai on an edge that should have been easily taken, and Tikolo got away with a similar edge that neither Bagai nor his slips moved for, and watched it fly through the gap. They took their second chances well and batted on into the afternoon sesssion. Both Waters and Tikolo made their 50s shortly after the lunch interval, Waters taking 116 balls and Tikolo only 76.
They were not content with half centuries and batted out the full afternoon session playing fluidly, rotating the strike, and building a partnership that most likely as taken this match out of reach of the Canadian team. Tikolo was the first to make his century - his second in the match - taking 147 balls to reach the milestone. Waters was more methodical, reaching his maiden first class hundred in 197 balls. Kenya powered to 254 for 2 at teatime, good for a 337 run lead overall.
More of the same in the evening session as Tikolo and Waters opened up and raced towards a declaration. Tikolo unleashed two massive sixes, one of which put a large dent in a CCA officials car and Waters batted equally aggressively from the other end. The third wicket partnership reached 330 runs before Tikolo was caught by Dhaniram on the long on boundary. He was again Kenya's top scorer making 169 off 207 deliveries, with 21 boundaries and 2 sixes. Kenya declared their innings at 362 for 3 when Tikolo was out, leaving Waters not out with 157 runs from 268 balls, with 19 boundaries.
The Canadian bowling card makes for some gruesome reading. Bhatti was the best, but even he went at better than 4 runs per over, taking 2 for 63 from 15 overs. Henry Osinde also took a wicket, conceding 58 runs in his 14 overs of work.
Canada were left needing 446 runs to win, and with just over an hour of play remaining in the third day. They came out with suprising aggression, Abdool Samad and Rizwan Cheema opening the batting playing shots all around the ground. Kenya got their early wicket when Cheema was trapped in front for just 4, but Sandeep Jyoti joined Samad and punished the Kenyan seam attack. With less than 10 minutes left in the day's play, however, Jyoti was bowled by Hinen Varaiya and nightwatchman extrordinaire Zahir Zameer came in to see out the remaining overs. Canada finished on 61 for 2.
So heading into the final day of this Intercontinental Cup match, Canada face the prospect of having to bat out the full day with only 8 wickets in hand to earn an unlikely draw, or make a near impossible 385 more runs to win. They may be aided by a 40% chance of afternoon thunderstorms, but will not be helped by a fourth day pitch that will offer a lot to Hiren Varaiya and Steve Tikolo.
