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.