Tall order for cricket team against Papua New Guinea

Kenya’s batsmen must come up with a different approach Saturday against Papua New Guinea in the opening match of the two 50 overs ICC World Cricket League Championship matches at Port Moresby.

The batsmen failed miserably in the three friendly games in Australia against Northern Frontier Select XI in Darwin, which the hosts won 2-1.

The opening pair of Dhiren Gondaria and Irfan Karim failed to occupy the crease long enough for the new ball to lose its shine. The middle order also did not perform well in Darwin.

The team has not found proper replacements for the opening pair of Kennedy Obuya and Ravindu Shah, who were part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. Either one of them could bat for up to the 40th over at times.

“The condition of the ground will determine the selection of the bowlers,” said coach Thomas Odoyo.

He added: “The boys are in high spirits and I expect them to do well.  They have acclimatised well as the weather conditions here are the same as in Darwin.”

After Papua New Guinea, Kenya is scheduled to meet Hong Kong in November at a venue to be announced by the ICC. The other teams taking part in the championship are Netherlands, Scotland, Nepal, Namibia and United Arab Emirates. Kenya has already played UAE and drawn 1-1. They beat Namibia 2-0.

The top four teams in December 2017 will join six others in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers set for Bangladesh from March 1 to April 4. Two teams will qualify for the 2019 World Cup to be hosted by England.

Kenya is also fighting to regain their One Day International (ODI) status lost during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in New Zealand.