MISSED TARGET: Hong Kong dash Kenya's hopes of qualifying for cricket world cup

Hong Kong wicketkeeper James Carter (R) looks on as Kenya's batsman Collins Obuya plays a shot during the ICC World Cricket League math between Kenya and Hong Jong, on November 20, 2016 at the Gymkhana Club in Nairobi. / AFP PHOTO / SIMON MAINA

Kenya’s struggle with the bat continued as they fell to guests Hong Kong in an International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League Championships (WCLC) second match at Nairobi Gymkhana.

The loss over the weekend dimmed Kenya’s hopes of making it to the ICC world cup qualifiers.

Once a force to reckon with in the sport, Kenya were hoping to pick up the pieces and move towards reclaiming the country’s lost glory.

However, batting ghosts could not let the homeboys be as they struggled most of the time and failed to deliver when it mattered most. Opening batsman Irfan Karim and Alex Obanda gave the hosts a good start and all seemed to be going their way.

Trouble started when Hong Kong’s wicket keeper Christopher Carter stumped Obanda, thus breaking their partnership that had accumulated 79 runs. With nine wickets remaining and 94 runs needed to beat Hong Kong in 12.2 overs, many thought it was going to be an easy feat for the Kenyans. Obanda played his heart out as he pushed for runs. When he was dismissed, he had scored 39 off 38.

The Kenyans were badly exposed with the second partnership of Karim and Dhiren Gondaria. Hong Kong knew their opponents were struggling in the shorter version of the game and with overs revised to 25 for Kenya based on the Duckworth Lewis Method, they did not give them a chance to settle down.

Kenya collapsed as fans, who had prayed for a double after Friday’s win, watched helplessly. One wicket after another, they went down. The most heartbreaking of them was when team captain Rakep Patel was bowled for a duck. Things went from bad to worse when a section of fans, who were initially on Kenya’s side, changed their allegiance and began supporting the opponents, applauding every move Hong Kong made.

The Kenyan men succumbed to pressure with some partnerships failing to post a single run and they were all out on 133 after 23 overs, gifting Hong Kong a 39 runs victory. As always, Kenya was impressive in bowling with Lucas Oluoch a left-arm fast-medium bowler terrorising Hong Kong’s top order batsmen and dismissing captain Barbar Hayat, Kinchit Shah and Carter.

Kenya remains fifth on the WCLC log with eight points, while Hong Kong moved third with 11 points. Papua New Guinea, who inflicted Kenya’s first loss, top the table tied on 12 points with Netherlands, who have fewer matches. Hong Kong are also tied on points with fourth-placed Scotland.

National team coach Thomas Odoyo said his players need to find a way of dealing with different situations.

“The weather played a big role in the outcome, but that should not be the case because there are no permanent conditions in any match. Cricket presents different situations and all they need is to learn how to deal with the situation at hand.”

He added that it was not the first time his charges had collapsed.

“It is unfortunate because this not the first time it has happened. We just have to find a way of overcoming this because it keeps happening to us over and over again,” Odoyo said.

He admitted that the loss had put them in a difficult position and could hinder their progress. Kenya faces an uphill task in their remaining matches against Netherlands Scotland and Nepal.