Thursday, January 18, 2007

Kenya prove too strong for Scots

Triangular series, Mombasa: Kenya 328-5 (50 overs) beat Scotland 138 (36.2 overs) by 190 runs
Scotland's Cricket World Cup ambitions were given a reality check in a 190-run thrashing by Kenya in Mombasa.

The hosts piled up 328-5 in the opening game of a triangular tournament, also involving Canada, and then dismissed the Scots for 138 in 36.2 overs.

Paul Hoffmann bowled tidily to take 2-45, but Kenya's total was their second highest in a one-day match.

Scotland's batting was undistinguished and Dougie Brown and number nine John Blain were joint top scorers with 22.

But it was perhaps not surprising as Craig Wright's team had little time to adapt to conditions, having completed an ICC Intercontinental Cup game in the United Arab Emirates just three days earlier.

Blain achieved an early breakthrough after Kenya won the toss and opted to bat, but a David Obuya (73) and Ravindu Shah (54) added 84 for the second wicket to give the home side the platform for a big score.

Shah was eventually caught at mid-wicket when he mis-timed a pull off Hoffmann and Obuya was stumped by Colin Smith to give Ross Lyons some consolation as his 10 overs cost 74.

Tanmay Mishra (66) and Collins Obuya (68 not out off 63 balls) upped the tempo to add 109 in 13 overs and Thomas Odoyo rounded things off by hitting four sixes in his unbeaten 45.

Navdeep Poonia went for a duck as Scotland made a bad start in reply and Paul Ongondo and Nehemiah Odhiambo claimed three wickets as the top order was swept away.

Left-arm spinner Hiren Varaiya joined in by removing Smith and Wright and the game was ended when Jimmy Kamande had Hoffmann caught behind.

No comments: