Kenya cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket win in their clash with fellow minnows Canada in St Lucia, sending a clear message to Group C rivals England and New Zealand that they will once again be no pushovers.

Set a victory target of 200 after electing to bowl, the shock semi-finalists of 2003 eased home with a little under seven overs to spare, aided by some slack fielding and 28 extras.

Kenya had lost an early wicket when David Obuya (four) nudged Anderson Cummins behind and when Ravi Shah (six) was trapped lbw by Umar Bhatti they were 52 for two.

But 58 from Maurice Ouma steadied the ship and, as the Canadians lamentably failed to exert any kind of pressure, the imperious Steve Tikolo, with 72 not out, and youngster Tanmay Mishra (35 not out) guided the Kenyans home at a canter.

Canada had progressed to 199 before seamer Henry Osinde was run out for one on the final ball of the innings, leaving Sunil Dhaniram unbeaten with a fine 34 off 35 balls.

Spinners Kamande and Tikolo were the pick of the Kenyan attack with two wickets apiece.

England have confirmed that against New Zealand tomorrow they will retain faith with the batting line-up which featured in their two warm-up matches against Bermuda and Australia.

That means Ed Joyce is preferred to Middlesex team-mate Andrew Strauss at the top of the order alongside Michael Vaughan.

The bowling attack is more complicated with seamers Sajid Mahmood, Jon Lewis, Liam Plunkett and Jimmy Anderson competing for the two final spots.

That decision may have to be delayed with Lancashire seamer Anderson forced to leave training yesterday due to an injured right little finger.