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Stephen Ogonji Tikolo (born June 25, 1971 in Nairobi) is a Kenyan cricketer. He is a right handed middle order batsman and part time right-arm medium pace bowler. He bowls quite effective offspin in the shorter form of the game. Tikolo has previously represented Border in South African domestic cricket and has also spent time playing in England and Bangladesh. Most recently he has been playing club cricket in Haverigg and back home he plays for Swamibapa Cricket Club in Nairobi. He once played for an Africa XI against Asia.
He has been a prolific scorer and is considered to be one of the better known players to have come out of Kenya. He is even regarded by many as the best player from the associate countries, although he now faces competition from Ryan ten Doeschate. Such is Tikolo's dominance that as of January 2007 he possesses six of the nine highest scores by a Kenyan batsman in ODI cricket.[1] Tikolo has made 2 centuries; 106* against Bangladesh and 111 against Bermuda. He has been dismissed in the 90's on three occasions.
Tikolo came from a cricketing family with his oldest brother Tom being a former captain of Kenya while his other brother David Tikolo played in the 1996 World Cup. It was in that tournament that Steve made his ODI debut for Kenya. Coming in at 3 for his maiden innings he made 65 against the Indians. He went on to play a couple more impressive innings in the Cup, top scoring for his side with 29 in their historic victory over West Indies at Pune and making 96 against Sri Lanka at Kandy.
Tikolo further enhanced his reputation as Kenya's premier batsman with 147 against Bangladesh in the 1997 ICC Trophy final. The innings gave them official ODI status and booked Kenya's place in England for the 1999 World Cup. It was another successful World Cup for Tikolo as he made a pair of 50's against India and England.
In 2002 he was named as the new Kenyan captain and led from the front in the Champions Trophy with innings of 93 and 69.
Tikolo led the Kenyan national side during their run to the semi finals of the 2003 cricket World Cup. This was a huge feat for a country that has not even been granted Test status [2]
After a poor 2004 Champions Trophy he quit as captain and instead led a players' strike in protest of internal politics. The strike forced a new regime and he returned as captain.
In 2007 he became the first player from a non Test playing country to appear in 100 ODI games. In 2008 Steve Tikolo was selected as captain of The Eastern Aces in Kenya's Domestic Tournament, the Sahara Elite League
[edit] ODI Centuries
[edit] First Class Centuries
First class centuries of Steve Tikolo |
|
Runs |
Match |
Against |
City/Country |
Venue |
Year |
[1] |
110 |
12 |
Zimbabwe A |
Nairobi, Kenya |
Gymkhana Club Ground |
2001 |
[2] |
115* |
13 |
Zimbabwe A |
Nairobi, Kenya |
Simba Union Ground |
2001 |
[3] |
117 |
15 |
Sri Lanka A |
Matara, Sri Lanka |
Uyanwatte Stadium |
2002 |
[4] |
109 |
26 |
Pakistan A |
Nairobi, Kenya |
Simba Union Ground |
2004 |
[5] |
149 |
30 |
Uganda |
Kampala, Uganda |
Lugogo Stadium |
2005 |
[6] |
220 |
34 |
Bermuda |
Windhoek, Namibia |
United Ground |
2005 |
[7] |
177* |
35 |
Ireland |
Windhoek, Namibia |
Wanderers Cricket Ground |
2005 |
[8] |
212* |
36 |
Netherlands |
Nairobi, Kenya |
Gymkhana Club Ground |
2006 |
[edit] External links