Kenya fall to Emirates in opening game of Twenty20 race

Kenya started their campaign for the Twenty20 World Cup on a sour note when they lost to hosts United Arab Emirates by 15 runs in the qualifiers at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

The World Cup is scheduled for April in the Caribbean. Arfan Haider (59 off 44 deliveries with five boundaries and two sixes) gave his team a flying start with an opening partnership of 35 with Mohammand Iqbal (20).

He was his team’s highest runs getter. The other batsmen who managed to get meaningful totals were Saib Ali (31) and Khurram Khan (28).

By the time UAE competed their allotted overs, the scoreboard was showing 165 for 5. The wickets were taken by Lameck Onyango (2-26), Nelson ‘Mandela’ Odhiambo (2-33) and Nehemiah Odhiambo (1-34).

Will face Canada

In reply, Kenya failed to cope with UAE’s stiff bowling and tight fielding and lost wickets at a more regular interval without posting meaningful runs on the scoreboard.

They were restricted to 150 for 5 at the end of the 20th over. UAE claimed their first victim when Qadar Nawaz (1-10) had opening batsman, David Obuya, caught by Qasim Zubair for two.

Obuya shared an opening stand of nine runs with Steve Tikolo (25). Collins Obuya top scored for Kenya with unbeaten 42 which came off 31 balls with three boundaries and a six.

He gave the side their best stand, 69 in the fourth wicket with skipper, Morris Ouma (39 off 27 deliveries with one four and a six). He also put on unbeaten six wickets stand of 32 with Jimmy Kamande (22 off 11 balls with three boundaries).

UAE’s bowlers shared the spoils with Ahmed Raza taking two wickets for 17 and E. Silva (2-25). Kenya take on Canada in Dubai today in a match they must win to improve their chances of playing in the final.