The main news apart from the slow cricket in the session has been that of West Indies star batsman Brian Lara being admitted to the hospital with suspected Hepatitis. Lara’s health condition is very crucial for his team, given the fact that West Indies are to play a Test series in India, soon after the ICC Champions Trophy.

Collins and Mervyn Dillon bowled an excellent first spell, but the Kenyan batsmen were up to it and saw that they did not lose more than the one wicket in the first 15 overs. Ravindu Shah (27 off 42 balls) became the second Kenyan batsman to be dismissed, bowled by Mahendra Nagamootoo with the Windies total on 51 in the 17th over.

Brijal Patel impressed once again. This young batsman had a good game against the Aussies in the recent triangular series in Nairobi, and today he carried on with the same confidence and style. Patel struck half a dozen boundaries in making 35 runs and took Kenyan score past the 100-runs-mark. Patel was caught by Hooper at mid-wicket, playing at a delivery from Nagamootoo a bit too early.

With Kenya requiring 157 runs in the remaining 25 overs, West Indies seem to have this game well in control.

After the 25th over, the story continued – Chanderpaul and Lara finding it difficult to score off Maurice Odumbe. Chanderpaul has not had a good tournament, although he has spent a substantial amount of time in the middle. In both games he has failed to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

In the 29th over, Chanderpaul was caught behind off Odumbe, and he did not even wait for umpire Venkataraghavan to give him out. Chanderpaul made 43 off 76 balls and West Indies were 115 for two at that stage.

Hooper and Lara waited for Odumbe to finish his spell (10-1-21-1) before playing a few shots. Lara, clearly struggling to middle the ball, survived three chances – all off the bowling of Collins Obuya.

Soon after Chanderpaul’s dismissal, Lara survived a caught behind appeal off Collins Obuya, which was referred to Asoka de Silva, who controversially decided to give Lara the benefit of doubt.

Lara was twice dropped. Firstly by Collins Obuya who spilled a return catch Obuya and then by Tony Suji at long on. Lara made the most of his good fortune,smashing a straight six off Obuya.

Just when Lara and Hooper were starting to raise the tempo of the innings, Steve Tikolo struck, removing Hooper (20), caught at deep mid-wicket by Kennedy Obuya. They had added 64 runs for the third wicket partnership.

Lara found good company in Ramnaresh Sarwan and marched on to his century. This was Lara’s first hundred, since the one he had scored against Australia at Sydney in Jan 2001. The two batsmen added 57 runs for the fourth wicket in just 7.1 overs. Lara opened out after he had reached his hundred before playing all over a straight delivery from Steve Tikolo.

West Indies lost the wickets of Sarwan (20) and Hinds (20 off 9 balls) towards the end as they tried to accelerate the scoring. Hinds', however, provided plenty of entertainment in his short innings, striking two huge sixes and a four.

As soon as the game started Kenya could have made an early breakthrough if Thomas Odoyo had held on to an easy catch at fine leg, after Shivanarine Chanderpaul, who had scores just three runs at that point, had miscued a hook shot off Martin Suji.

Chris Gayle unleashed an attack on Martin Suji, smashing consecutive sixes, straight down the ground. Chanderpaul too was keen on scoring freely and rotating the strike. This positive approach from the West Indies openers brought the 50 on the board in just 8.3 overs.

Just when it looked like Gayle and Chanderpaul was going to blow Kenya away, a miscued pull of Odoyo saw him depart, caught by Tony Suji. Gayle made 33 off 42 balls with the help of four boundaries and a couple of sixes.

Chanderpaul was on 23 off 26 balls when the first wicket fell in the 12th over, and then the only positive stroke he could play was a punch through covers off Maurice Odumbe for four. Chanderpaul survived a second chance, when Ravindu Shah put down a catch at mid-wicket off the bowling of Tony Suji.

At the end of the 25th over, Chanderpaul has crawled on to 39* off 66 balls, adding just 16 runs off 40 balls after Gayle’s exit. Chanderpaul’s inability to rotate the strike has had Lara too struggling to find his rhythm, making 21* off 43 balls with the help of a solitary boundary.

Earlier in the day, the match got off with a lot of confusion all around; primarily caused by the change in name of the Kenyan players. Suddenly Collins Otieno had become Collins Obuya, and this is not the first time that the three Otieno/Obuya brothers had caused enough confusion; official protests have been launched with the ICC about this issue.

The Caribbean’s have made no change to the team that lost out narrowly to South Africa in the opening encounter.

There were some heavy overnight showers, and there was a fair amount of doubt whether the game would start on time.

The grounds-men have done a good job, and have been aided by brilliant sunshine. The skies are clear and blue this morning. The humidity and the heaviness in the air might just help the seam bowlers in the first few overs.

Kenya are playing in their first game of the tournament.

West Indies: CH Gayle, S Chanderpaul, BC Lara, *CL Hooper, RR Sarwan, WW Hinds, +RD Jacobs, MV Nagamootoo, VC Drakes, M Dillon, PT Collins.

Kenya: KO Otieno, RD Shah, BJ Patel, *SO Tikolo, TM Odoyo, MO Odumbe, MA Suji, JO Angara, AO Suji, CO Obuya, +DO Obuya.

The umpires for the game are: DJ Harper (Aus) and S Venkataraghavan (Ind) TV Umpire: EAR de Silva Match Referee: MJ Procter (SA)