Date-stamped : 13 Apr97 - 14:18 13 April 1997 Dazzling Tikolo sets the pace By Scyld Berry RAIN has forced the ICC Trophy final into an extra day with the umpires deciding not to start the Bangladesh innings after Kenya made 241 for seven in their 50 overs in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Kenya, led by a sparkling innings from Stephen Tikolo, put themselves in a strong position. Tikolo, who came in with his side in trouble at 15 for two, blasted his way to 147 with support from Maurice Odumbe on 43. Assuming they finish off Bangladesh today, the Kenyans are set for take-off. The ECB is arranging for England A to tour there - and, probably, Sri Lanka - next winter, and the Kenyans will make an unofficial tour of England in 1998, playing one-day matches to prepare for the World Cup. Although they have only a thousand or so adult cricketers, the Kenyans have the ability to justify the official one-day international status which they - and Bangladesh - will be accorded at July's ICC meeting, and even to progress higher. In addition to their two high class batsmen, Tikolo and Odumbe, they have a hand of pace bowlers, led by Martin Zuji and well coached by Peter Lever last year, who only need experience to be a Test attack. The National Stadium in Nairobi seats 12,000 and is due to be floodlit. Their qualification for the World Cup makes professionalism possible now and they will no doubt produce another upset or two in 1999. The only drawback to Kenyan cricket is that it is in Kenya, and the game is liable to the corruption which permeates life there. Although there is money available, none of it, strangely, could be found to send their under-17s to defend their title in South Africa. Meanwhile Scotland, who qualified for the World Cup after winning the third place play-off, began their plans for the 1999 finals where they will play Australia, West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand and the winners of today's final. "It is tremendous for cricket in Scotland," said Alex Ritchie, general secretary of the Scottish Cricket Union. "It will give us a real focus until the World Cup in England." Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)