Kenya wobble but overcome Hong Kong by three wickets in first ICC World Cricket League Championship ODI
Home side prevail by Duckworth-Lewis method, making 201 for seven after Hong Kong score 222 all out
Kenya avoided a batting collapse to beat Hong Kong by three wickets in their rain-shortened opening ICC World Cricket League Championship in Nairobi yesterday.
The home side bowled out Hong Kong for 222 in 46.2 overs at the Gymkhana Club Ground and then surpassed their revised target of 200 in 40.5 overs for the loss of seven wickets to win on Duckworth-Lewis.
The two points earned from the victory gives Kenya a total of eight points in the eight-team table, keeping them in fifth place, one point behind Hong Kong, who stay fourth. Hong Kong are now unable to top the table, even if they win the second and final match against Kenya on Sunday.
Papua New Guinea and Netherlands lead the table on 12 points from eight games with Scotland one point behind, also from eight matches. Hong Kong and Kenya have so far played seven.
Hong Kong started off strongly with Kinchit Sha taking on the Kenyan bowlers, blasting 34 from 17 balls with one six and six fours before he was out to Nelson Mandela Odhiambo, who grabbed three wickets.
Captain Babar Hayat contributed 24 while the reliable Anshuman Rath gave Hong Kong hope of a respectable total with his 90 off 92 deliveries that included one six and six fours. Shahid Wasif hit 44 runs for Hong Kong but their total was always going to be a challenge to defend.
Kenya made steady progress and reached 140 for two before they started to encounter problems. Opener Irfan Karim hit 67 and Alex Obanda 29 with No 3 Dhiren Gondaria’s 45 the only other significant contributor from the hosts.
As wickets steadily fell and rain stopped play twice, Kenya regrouped and eventually reached their target with ease with 13 balls remaining in their alloted 43 overs.
