Date-stamped : 13 Jan98 - 11:26 13 Jan 1998 Kenya eye SA challenge Trevor Chesterfield Johannesburg - While South Africa took most of the day off Kenya put together a worthwhile perormance as they prepared for today's showdown between the two sides on the second day of the under/19 World Cup tournament. Led by Thomas Odoyo with a stylish 96 off 90 balls, the Kenyans won their opening match in the Gavaskar Pool by eight wickets at Soweto Oval in the MTN sponored tournament against Scotland. Just the sort of tonic Kenya need as they arrived short of team power in terms of numbers with a squad of 12, but flamboyant Odoyo was quick to paste the Scottish bowling all around the smallish ground in Rocklands. Indulging in some beefy strokeplay, the young senior World Cup star rattled the run chase along at a merry rate. As always, mature strokeplay was woven with typical limited-overs play on turning the score over. A partneship of 175 with Agid Janmohammed was a little too hot for the Scottish lads, who having emerged from an ice-bound winter, battled to overcome the humid conditions in the sprwaling township that is far removed from the greystone and wet of Scotland. South Africa held a light net session at the Wanderers yesterday with the three players who missed out in the first game playing against Kenya. The left-arm wrist spinner Goolam Bodi, quickie Donavan Henry and all-rounder Wafsie Samsodien should find themselves playing. Anton Ferreira, joint coach of the South African side, said the idea was to give all players a chance in the first two to three games. "We want all the players to be ready for the Super League series when they start, but the final side will only be named once we've had a look at the pitch conditions," Ferreira said last night. Australia, one of the favourites to retain the crown they won 10 years ago, put together an impressive 352 for eight in their Cowdrey Pool match against Zimbabwe. Dominic Thornley scored the first century of the tournament with 126. He was partnered by Marcus North, who helped himself to 115 in a partnership of 228 for the first wicket. Although Zimbabwe did what they could to mount a challenge, the required run-rate of more than seven an over was always going to be a stiff target for South Africa's neighbours. New Zealand gave England a scare in their Sobers Pool match at St Alaban's College. Although bowld out for 80, England were 70 for four at once stage before the middle-order rallied against the spirited Kiwi bowling and fielding. Hassan Raza, the only test player in the tournament, put together 90 as Pakistan had little trouble in beating Sri Lanka in their Bradman Pool top table game while Denmark edged home to a two wickets victory over Ireland on a slow pitch at CBC Old Boys, Boksburg. And Bangladesh were smiling at Laudium today when they beat Namibia by four wickets in a game where both sides had their chances but the Namibians batting lacked consistentcy. Trevor Chesterfield Cricket writer Pretoria News tche@ptn.independent.co.za Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)