Cricket: Maddy in magnificent form

England A 278-2 v Kenya

Darren Maddy hit an unbeaten century yesterday as England A progressed towards a formidable total on the opening day of their three-day tour match with Kenya at the Ruaraka Sports Club near Nairobi.

Maddy finished unbeaten on 136, with two sixes and 12 fours. The tourists, having been put into bat, overcame the wash-out of the morning session to reach 278 for 2 at the close.

Steve James continued to struggle on Kenya's low pitches and was dismissed for 29 when Kenya's left-arm spinner and captain, Asif Karim, outwitted him with the flight and the Glamorgan batsman edged to Maurice Odumbe at slip.

Maddy and the tourists's captain, Nick Knight, then forged a profitable partnership. They added 187 in 43 overs before Knight drove straight to Ravinder Shah at cover off Lameck Onyango just four short of a century. He had hit 13 fours and a six during his innings but Maddy continued and, with support from Mark Ealham, steered England into a commanding position.

First day of three; Kenya won toss

ENGLAND A - First Innings

S P James c Odumbe b Karim 29

*N V Knight c Shah b Onyango 96

D L Maddy not out 136

M A Ealham not out 7

Extras (lb7, w1, nb2) 10

Total (for 2, 70 overs) 278

Fall: 1-48, 2-235.

To bat: D J Sales, A Flintoff, A F Giles, J Ormond, C M W Read, D A Cosker, P M Hutchison.

Bowling: Suji 11-0-37-0; Angara 7-2-21-0; Shah 7-1-21-0; Karim 18-4-47- 1; Deen 4-0-27-0; Odumbe 7-1-29-0; Patel 5-0-36-0; Tikalo 2-0-16-0; Onyango 9-2-37-1.

KENYA: *A Karim, S Tikalo, H Vadher, M Odumbe, K Otieno, R Shah, L Onyango, J Angara, Z Deen, B Patel, T Suji.

Umpires: S Patel and M Khan.