Steve Tikolo

Steve Tikolo

Personal information
Full name	Stephen Ogonji Tikolo
Born	25 June 1971 (1971-06-25) Nairobi, Kenya
Nickname	Gunnzie, Guns
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right arm medium/off spin
Role	All-rounder
Relations	Tom Tikolo (brother) David Tikolo (brother)
International information
National side	Kenya
ODI debut (cap 11)	18 February 1996 v India
Last ODI	20 March 2011 v Zimbabwe
ODI shirt no.	5
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1995–1996	Border
Career statistics
Competition	ODI	T20I	FC	LA
Matches	126	7	52	189
Runs scored	3,304	108	4,085	5,377
Batting average	29.76	15.42	50.43	32.00
100s/50s	3/23	0/0	11/20	9/33
Top score	111	37	220	133
Balls bowled	3,794	18	5,092	5,849
Wickets	90	1	72	142
Bowling average	33.44	40.00	37.58	31.74
5 wickets in innings	0	0	1	0
10 wickets in match	n/a	n/a	0	n/a
Best bowling	4/41	1/15	6/80	4/41
Catches/stumpings	64/–	3/–	55/–	92/–
Source: CricketArchive, 12 December 2009

Stephen Ogonji Tikolo (born June 25, 1971) is a Kenya cricketer. Tikolo is widely regarded as the best Kenyan cricket player ever, having scored the most runs and taken the second most wickets for the team in Odi's.

Career

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 regarded as an all time great in his home-land and 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. Tikolo has made three ODI centuries; 106* against Bangladesh, 111 against Bermuda and 102 against Zimbabwe. 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.

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 2005 Tikolo was signed by Haverigg to play cricket in England.

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

Tikolo will retire after the 2009 season. His last major tournament, and his last appearance as captain, was the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier, where Kenya secured place for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

On August 18, 2010, Months after walking out on the team and indicating he would not play international cricket again, Steve Tikolo has announced his availability for the 2011 World Cup. He is part of the Kenya cricket team for the World cup. He announced his retirement after the world cup in 2011.

ODI Centuries

ODI centuries of Steve Tikolo
	Runs	Match	Against	City/Country	Venue	Year
[1]	106*	21	Bangladesh	Dhaka, Bangladesh	Bangabandhu National Stadium	1999
[2]	111	82	Bermuda	Mombasa, Kenya	Mombasa Sports Ground	2006
[3]	102	107	Zimbabwe	Nairobi, Kenya	Gymkana Club Ground	2008

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]	156	29	India A	Nairobi, Kenya	Simba Union Ground	2004
[6]	149	30	Uganda	Kampala, Uganda	Lugogo Stadium	2005
[7]	220	34	Bermuda	Windhoek, Namibia	United Ground	2005
[8]	177*	35	Ireland	Windhoek, Namibia	Wanderers Cricket Ground	2005
[9]	212*	36	Netherlands	Nairobi, Kenya	Gymkhana Club Ground	2006
[10]	158	47	Canada	Toronto, Canada	Maple Leaf South-West Ground	2009
[11]	169	-	Canada	Toronto, Canada	Maple Leaf South-West Ground	2009

See also

• Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania

External links

• Player profile: Steve Tikolo from ESPNcricinfo
• Player profile: Steve Tikolo from CricketArchive