HARD LUCK FOR HOSTS: Kenya fall to Saudi Arabia by 39 runs

Kenya's Batsman Dhiren Gondaria (right) makes a defensive shot as Inayat Saeed of Saudi Arabia waits to catch a delivery during quadrangular Cricket Tournament at Jerffreys Ademy on Saturday, Sept 24, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Hosts Kenya began their Four-Nation Quadrangular Twenty20 campaign on a wrong footing falling by 39 runs to Saudi Arabia in a match played yesterday at the Nairobi Gymkhana. As the Saudis booked a place in the finals, the loss left Kenya in a do-or-die situation as they need to win their remaining two matches against Uganda and Qatar to qualify for the final set for Friday.

Coming from a successful outing in the Quadrangular 50-Overs series where they beat Saudi Arabia by six wickets in the finals, the Kenyans failed to turn up for the task at hand. Skipper Rakep Patel admitted that they they played poorly and it was not a performance befitting a competition of that magnitude.

"We did not play well, 123 runs was a small score to chase and we failed terribly. No one took responsibility in batting that is why we were ousted one by one and some of us could not even last for two minutes on pitch,” Patel said.

He added that all was not lost and the finals were still within their reach. "We still have a chance and it depends on what we do with our remaining chances. We have to up our game, remain focused so we can make the best out of our matches against Uganda tomorrow and Qatar thereafter,” he concluded.

Kenya won the toss and elected to field perhaps in a quest to tame the Saudis.

It however backfired on them as they were unable to surpass Saudi Arabia’s score of 123 for 10 in 20 overs, falling short by 39 runs as they were all-out with 84 runs in 17 overs.

In the Kenya innings, the homeboys failed to shine as they were outclassed by their guests who gave them the march orders one after the other. Ibrarul Waq was the mastermind of Kenya’s downfall with three wickets for nine runs in three overs. Roheel Shamus did not spare his hosts either as he dispatched two for ten runs in four overs. Afzal Akram had two wickets for nine runs in two overs.

Shem Ngoche, who came in as the ninth batsman, was the lead scorer for Kenya with 22 runs off 21 balls. Dhiren Gondaria who starred for Kenya in the tie against Saudi Arabia hitting a century was second with 17 runs off 22 balls but was bowled by Shamus with the score at 53 for seven in 10.3 overs. Captain Patel and Karim Kaul scored ten runs for Kenya each.

In the Saudi innings, Afzal Saleem starred with 32 runs off 36 balls, Gulam Mustafa made 26 runs off 22 balls while Shanawaz Khan had 20 off 23 before he was caught by Eugine Ochieng. Nehemiah Odhiambo was impressive in bowling for Kenya with three wickets for 26 runs in four overs. Ngoche managed two wickets for 15 runs in four overs.

At the Jeffrey’s Grounds, neighbours Uganda were not spared either as they crumbled in the hands of Qatar. They went down by six wickets.