Kenya 318-5 Bermuda 254-9 NAIROBI, Kenya -- Another disastrous day in the field means that Bermuda are down to their final strike.

All-rounder Maurice Odumbe struck a brilliant 158 not out, then took three wickets and claimed two good catches, while Steve Tikolo weighed in with a valuable 67 to help Kenya clinch the first spot in the ICC Trophy final yesterday.

Bermuda, who have conceded over 300 runs twice in the space of two days, had one bright spot in Clay Smith, who hit a masterful 108 from 96 balls and single-handidly threatened to bring the host country to their knees.

But Smith's, and Bermuda's, bold reply was brought to an end with the score 152 in the 31st over and though Noel Gibbons followed with a solid 47, the match was over as a contest.

Kenya will face the winners of tomorrow's second semifinal between Holland and United Arab Emirates in the final on Sunday while Bermuda will meet the losers on Saturday, when the last qualifying spot for the 1996 World Cup will be decided.

"We will have to make a big improvement on today's performance if we want to get into the first three,'' said captain Steede. "Our batting has been doing well, but we cannot continue giving up runs like we have been lately and expect to score the runs.'' Kenya made certain of their World Cup place with a dynamite batting performance that was no doubt aided by Bermuda's inability to cope with the bumpy outfield at Aga Khan Sports Club.

Bermuda's fielding was made to look second rate with no less than 30 extra runs credited to the batsmen as balls either bounced off or went through players, especially in the last 20 overs from which Kenya scored 187.

Steede in particular had a difficult day in the field, starting with a dropped catch off opening bat Deepak Chudasama when the score was 29 for one in the eighth over.

Chudasama would receive one more life as Bruce Perinchief put down a return catch but soon after redeemed himself by running out the Kenyan as he attempted three.

The crucial point of the Kenyan innings was now at hand as Tikolo joined Odumbe at 96 for two in the 23rd over.

Neither player gave a chance during the partnership, which produced 142 runs from 117 balls.

Tikolo was finally bowled having a slog at Gibbons after stroking eight fours from 50 balls.

Odumbe then had centre stage all to himself and he did not disappoint an estimated 4,000 partisan fans.

Such was the discipline of his innings that the three sixes he hit were among his last five scoring strokes.

Odumbe faced only 137 balls and also hit 13 fours. He received late support from skipper Tom Tikolo (10) and free-hitting Edward Tito who made 20 not out from nine balls.

Clay Smith and Anthony Edwards were the pick of the Bermuda bowlers with none for 50 and one for 54 respectively, Smith's spell of off-spin coming unchanged from the 16th over.

Bermuda's innings was in almost instant trouble as wicket-keeper Kennedy Otieno took a fine diving catch to dismiss Dexter Smith for five in the second over.

But after the manner in which Clay Smith approached the daunting target, Kenya might have been pardoned for wanting to have kept the openers together longer.

Three of the right-hander's first five scoring strokes were boundaries and that early tempo translated into his finest international performance to date.

The score quickly raced to 40 by the seventh over with Steede a casual observer at the other end.

Smith took on all comers with the exception of tidy left-arm spinner Arif Karim whose 10 overs yielded only 25 runs.

The pair added 137, a new Bermuda second wicket ICC record, before Steede (31) mistimed an on-drive against Steve Tikolo and gave the opposing skipper a simple catch at mid-on.

That prompted a collapse that saw Bermuda go from a hopeful position of 144 for one in 29 overs to 154 for four after the 32nd.

In the middle was the unfortunate dismissal of Smith, who was given lbw attempting to sweep Karim, in the second over of his second spell.

What followed might land the youngster in hot water as he objected to the decision by Namibian umpire Louis Van Reenen and then took a slow walk off the pitch to boos from an ungrateful majority.

In the next over, Bermuda's fourth wicket fell as Charlie Marshall (one) got a leading edge driving at a delivery from off-spinner Tikolo and his brother held his second catch of the day.

Gibbons, bothered by a recurring hamstring strain, made a futile attempt to push the score with a few lusty blows, but wickets fell around him at too alarming a rate for Bermuda to have a chance.

Odumbe's grand day was capped by a sensational one-hand return catch to dismiss Jeff Richardson for 11 and then one at the second attempt in the deep to send back Clevie Wade (seven).

Steve Tikolo, in quieter fashion, had a good all-round day as well with three for 49, the final wicket being that of Gibbons who hit a six and three fours in 61 balls.

CLAY SMITH -- Shown here during an earlier ICC match, yesterday's Bermuda star put together his finest international performance with a masterful 108 against Kenya.