PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Kenya wins last friendly match ahead of World Cricket games

Kenya's Bowler Lucas Ndandason during cricket world cup qualifier at Nairobi Gymkana Grounds on Friday, Nov 18, 2016. [PGOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Men’s national cricket team defeated Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) senior select side by 38 yesterday at Motibaug Grounds in Vadodara, India.

This was their last buildup match ahead of the International Cricket Association (ICC) World Cricket League Championships (WCLC) at Tribhuvan University in Kirtipur, Nepal. The Kenyan men played four matches, won three and lost one against the BCA under-23 side.

Veteran Collins Obuya and skipper Rakep Patel were superb as they led Kenya’s onslaught with the bat, while Nelson Odhiambo and Elijah Otieno starred with the ball. Kenya won the toss and elected to bat, but were in for a disappointing start as they watched the top order crumble.

Baba Pathan destroyed Kenya’s top order, dismissing opening batsman Irfan Karim and Dhiren Gondaria, who scored a century on Monday on ducks. Pathan was so determined that he dismissed Karmin on his sixth ball and Gondaria on his second.

Obuya then came on the crease and helped Kenya regain their footing as he partnered with Alex Obanda (22) for a third wicket stand of 37. Atit Sheth got Obanda caught in the 10th over to put Kenya’s score at 46 for the loss of three wickets. Rakep and Obuya formed a solid fourth wicket stand that garnered a total of 141 runs. The duo hit a half ton each as they staged their best performances of all the four matches.

Obuya scored 79 runs off 96 balls, cracking eight boundaries and four sixes before he was bowled by Swapnil Singh. Rakep smashed six boundaries and two sixes for a total of 76 from 96 deliveries as Kenya settled for 234 all out with three balls remaining.

Soaib Tai was superb with the ball for BCA as he dismissed Kenya’s middle order. He took three wickets for 41. Pathan took two for 41, while Lukman Meriwala took one wicket.

Chasing 235 in their innings, the home boys also had a low start as their starting two Kedar Devdhar and Mobile Patel were dismissed on ducks. Brilliant fielding from Kenya made it difficult for BCA to chase the score as the Kenyan bowlers fell them one by one.

Sheth top scored for BCA with 65(65), but Nelson Odhiambo could not let him their party as he got him caught by Gurdeep Bhagat.

Tai (40) and Dixit Patel (30) pushed for the score, but their efforts were not good enough and were 196 all out 43.5 overs. Elijah Otieno, who returned to the national team after being left out of the squad that played Hong Kong last year, remained steady with the ball.

Otieno took three wickets for 26, while Nelson also took three for 31. Shem Ngoche and Lucas Oluoch took one wicket each.