Kenya to face Saudi Arabia
Kenya's Nelson Odhiambo during their Four-Nation Twenty20 Quadrangular Series match against Saudi Arabia at Nairobi Gymkhana on September 21, 2016. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
The Saudis have lost to the hosts twice by 16 runs and six wickets in the preliminary round and in the final of the Four-Nations One Day International Quadrangular Series last week.
- Tuesday’s match offers the Saudis a chance to ‘settle their score’ with the hosts in a new series – Four-Nation Twenty20 Quadrangular Series.
Saudi Arabia have a bone to crush with Kenya in their Four-Nation Twenty20 Quadrangular Series match at Nairobi Gymkhana on Tuesday.
The Saudis have lost to the hosts twice by 16 runs and six wickets in the preliminary round and in the final of the Four-Nations One Day International Quadrangular Series last week.
Tuesday’s match offers the Saudis a chance to "settle their score" with the hosts in a new series: Four-Nation Twenty20 Quadrangular Series.
The Arabs have a little psychological advantage going into the match, having toppled Uganda by 31 runs in the opener on Monday at Nairobi Gymkhana. Saudi Arabia batted first and set the East Africans a competitive target of 179 runs in the allotted 20 overs.
“We believe T20 is about luck,” said Saudi Arabia’s coach-player Mohammed Abbasi Mazhar. “We are going to give ourselves a chance to get another big score and then bowl with the same faith we did against Uganda.”
HEAVY DOWNPOUR
Kenya didn’t take to the field on Monday after a "wet playing square" at Jaffrey Sports Club Ground in Nairobi as a result of Sunday’s heavy downpour that ensured their match against Qatar was abandoned. Cricket Kenya official David "Pamba" Odhiambo said the match will replayed on Thursday, which had earlier been set aside as the teams’ official rest day.
Kenya coach Thomas Odoyo says his youthful brigade is raring to have a go in the shorter code of the gentleman’s game: Twenty20.
“We are well rested,” said Odoyo as he watched the rubber between Uganda and Saudi Arabia. “Each member of the team wants to play and it is a good thing to have in camp. The big boys (experienced guys) however will take first priority. We are still hungry for victory.”
Odoyo has a star-studded batting line-up comprising Irfan Karim, Dhiren Gondaria, Alex Obanda, Rushab Patel, Rakep Patel, Karan Kaul and Collins Obuya. The bowling will be his only worry with fiery paceman Elijah Otieno struggling for form and Lucas Olouch out injured. Nelson Odhiambo and Nehemiah Odhiambo, who impressed last week, will be the go-to men in a match the locals believe will go down to the wire.
At Jaffrey Sports Club Ground, Steve Tikolo’s Uganda will settle for nothing less than victory against Qatar. Uganda suffered a 31-run loss to Saudis and if they lose again on Tuesday, they will be out of contention for Friday’s final.
