Ireland prove too strong for Kenya

EMMET RIORDAN

CRICKET: IRELAND PROVED too strong for Kenya in their opening Twenty20 international in Mombasa yesterday, with their six-wicket victory seeing Phil Simmons’s side entering the ICC rankings in ninth position after completing the minimum eight qualifying matches.

With the World Twenty20 qualifiers taking place in the United Arab Emirates next month, the performance set the right note ahead of an extended build-up to the event, with two more games against Kenya before a training camp in South Africa.

Skipper William Porterfield won his fourth straight toss of the tour, but for the first time let Kenya bat in Ireland’s first T20 international since the Guyana game against England in 2010.

Left-arm spinner George Dockrell opened the bowling for the first time in a T20 international, and with great effect, taking a wicket with the last ball of the opening over and another in his second, both to catches from Trent Johnston, to remove Kenya’s opening partnership.

Boyd Rankin struck in his second over before Max Sorensen took his first international wicket with his fourth ball to leave Kenya on 35 for four at the end of the eighth over.

They then managed a partnership of 48 for the fifth wicket, before Paul Stirling had top-scorer Tanmay Mishra caught for 34 by John Mooney at deep mid-wicket. His departure set off a string of wickets that saw them make just 107 from their 20 overs, with Dockrell finishing as pick of the bowling attack with figures of three for 15.

Despite Porterfield being run out off the first ball while attempting a second run, Ireland had little problem chasing down the total, with Kevin O’Brien hitting an unbeaten 30 from 36 balls, sharing a 47-run fourth-wicket stand with Ed Joyce (24), and hitting the winning boundary off the third ball of the 16th over.

• Email Us
• |