ICC Challenge League B: Hong Kong’s 5-wicket win over Kenya keeps World Cup hopes alive
- Aizaz Khan and Yasim Murtaza put on 97 for sixth wicket as Hong Kong chase down 136-run target with nearly 100 balls to spare
- Victory was team’s fourth in five matches in Uganda and leaves them second in table heading to final round of competition in August
Hong Kong ended their Challenge League B campaign on a high on Monday, beating Kenya by five wickets with almost 100 balls remaining.
A sixth-wicket partnership of 97 between Aizaz Khan (59) and Yasim Murtaza (39) helped Hong Kong reach the 136 they needed for victory off just 34 overs.
Murtaza had earlier taken four wickets for 26 runs, and Eshan Khan three for 27, as Kenya were bowled out in less than 39 overs, with only Irfan Karim providing any real resistance.
The Kenyan wicketkeeper was left unbeaten on 59 and ran out of partners as his side collapsed around him after Collins Obuya, with whom he put on 48 for the third wicket, was trapped LBW by Murtaza.
His departure sparked a flurry of wickets, and Kenya went from 71 for three to 135 all out in fairly short order.
Despite chasing a low total, Hong Kong got themselves into a little bit of trouble at the start of their run chase, slipping to 40 for five, as Shem Ngoche took three wickets, including the prize scalp of Babar Hayat for just five runs. He earlier accounted for openers Jamie Atkinson (9) and Shahid Wasif (2).
Ngoche also ran out Zeeshan Ali (21) and stand-in captain Kinchit Shah (1) to leave Hong Kong reeling, before Murtaza and Aizaz Khan stepped in, guiding their side to 137 for five.
