SEEKING A DOUBLE: Kenya keen to beat Hong Kong again to stay in contention

CRICKET WORLD CUP QUALIFIER Batsman Hongkong team's Ehsan Nawaz (right) makes a sweeping strike as Wicket Keeper Ifran Karim of Kenya waits a delivery during cricket world cup qualifier at Nairobi Gymkana Grounds on Friday, Nov 18, 2016. [PGOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

After a successful day out in the first match of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League Championships (WCLC), Kenya will be seeking to complete a double when they face off with Hong Kong today at Nairobi Gymkhana.

It is a must-win tie for Kenya who are battling to regain their One Day International (ODI) status as well as earn a ticket to the World Cup qualifiers to be held in Bangladesh in 2018.

With two points in the bag after beating Hong Kong by three wickets on Friday, Kenya will be out to finish the job today. Currently fifth on the WCLC standings, a whitewash over Hong Kong will see them move to fourth and inch closer to sealing their place in the qualifiers.

As it was in the Quadrangular Series, the homeboys were impressive with the ball but struggled in their innings. Despite registering the crucial win, only opening batsman Irfan Karim surpassed the half ton mark with 67 runs off 92 balls. Dhiren Gondaria missed the half century mark by five runs and was Kenya’s second highest runs scorer while Alex Obanda scored 29 off 32.

Skipper Rakep Patel had a short stint at the crease scoring 4 off 9 but had a wonderful spell with the ball by picking five wickets. Former skipper Collins Obuya did not do well in the middle and was run out after scoring 10 runs.

However, going into today’s match, Kenyans will have to remain calm and bat well. They will be wary of Hong Kong’s Ehsan Khan, a right arm off spinner who troubled them taking two wickets for 44 runs in nine overs.

Kenyans will also be wise to watch Nadeem Ahmed who conceded only 36 runs in 10 overs and picked a wicket. Anshuman Rath, Aizaz Khan and Tanveer Ahmed who took a wicket each will also be out to restrict Kenyans as they seek to draw level and remain above Kenya on the log.

Kenyan bowlers will be hoping that the gods of cricket smile on them once again and they bowl out their opponents as they did on Friday. Nelson Odhiambo, who destroyed Hong Kong’s game plan by wiping out their their top order of captain Babar Hayat, Kinchit Shah and Christopher Carter as well as Rakep and Nehemiah Odhiambo who took two wickets, will be relied on to destabilise the opposition.

The visitors on the other hand will be on a revenge mission and will want to register their first victory over Kenya who have beaten them since their first meeting in 1994. Rath who came close to scoring a century missing by notching 90 runs will lead the onslaught together with Hayat, Shahid Wasif who scored 44 off 61.

Hong Kong have nine points and a win in today's match will increase their chances of reaching the qualifiers. A win for the visitors will leave Kenya in a precarious position and they have to win to leapfrog the visitors by one point.

National team coach Thomas Odoyo urged his charges to put their best foot forward, remain calm and focus on the job at hand. “We can’t afford to drop any points at home because we are playing under conditions that we know and we need to utilise this opportunity," he said.

The match starts at 9 am and entry is free.

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