Ireland fight back to reach final

CRICKET NEWS:IRELAND COMPLETED a stunning African double-header yesterday with a nerve-racking, final-day victory over Kenya in Nairobi that keeps alive hopes of a third straight Intercontinental Cup title, writes Emmet Riordan

Regan West set off wild celebrations at the Gymkhana ground when he trapped Peter Ongondo leg-before to bowl out the home side for 327 with just 20 minutes left in the match to secure victory by an innings and 65 runs.

The victory guarantees the Ireland players an extended stay in Africa, with their final clash against Namibia in Port Elizabeth due to start on October 30th.

Kenya needed to bat out the day, but Trent Johnston made a vital early breakthrough when he held on to a low return catch to see off dangerman Steve Tikolo after he had made 44.

West struck three overs later, Alex Cusack taking a bat-pad chance to remove wicketkeeper Maurice Ouma.

Johnston made it four wickets in the innings when top-scorer Seren Waters holed out to Irish skipper William Porterfield at point to reduce Kenya to 164 for five.

The home side decided to drop anchor in a bid to play out for the draw, with Thomas Odoyo and Rakeb Patel surviving for 38 overs, until Boyd Rankin changed to around the wicket to claim Patel for 32, with Niall O'Brien taking the catch behind the wicket.

Odoyo looked like he was going to see his side home, before West enticed him to edge to Andre Botha at first slip for 61.

Botha was then introduced for the first time in the innings, and struck in his first over to remove Hiren Varaiya and then bowled Lameck Onyanga for a duck to leave Kenya on 316 for nine.

Jimmy Kamande tried to take the pressure off Ongondo as the game entered its last half hour, only for West to get past the tailender's guard for the win.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons paid tribute to his spinners, but also took time to heap praise on Johnston, who gave up his job to make the tour.

Ireland remain in Nairobi for a Tri-Nations series against Kenya and Zimbabwe, starting on Friday.

SCORECARD(at Gymkhana, Nairobi)

Overnight: Ireland578-4 dec (160 ovs) (K O'Brien 171no, N O'Brien 135, A Botha 109, A White 92, A Cusack 42; H Varaiya 2-147), Kenya 186 (85.1 ovs) (S Tikolo 44, T Odoyo 32; K McCallan 4-52, R West 4-67) 146-2 (46 ovs) (S Waters 65no, S Tikolo 41no; T Johnston 2-12).

KENYA - Second innings

S Watersc Porterfield b Johnston 75

K Obuyac Rankin b Johnston 26

A Obandalbw b Johnston 4

S Tikolocb Johnston 47

M Oumac Cusack b West 1

R Patelc N O'Brien b Rankin 32

T Odoyoc Botha b West 61

J Kamandenot out 42

H Varaiyalbw b Botha 4

L Onyangab Botha 0

P Ongondolbw b West 4

Extras(b14 lb10 nb5 w2)31

-----

Total(all out, 135.4 ovs) 327

Fall of wickets:1-63, 2-76, 3-159, 4-164, 5-164, 6-238, 7-294, 8-312, 9-316.

Bowling:P Connell 10-1-48-0; B Rankin 12-1-49-1; T Johnston 21-8-43-4; K McCallan 37-15-60-0; R West 42.4-17-81-3; A Cusack 3-0-8-0; A White 4-0-9-0; A Botha 6-4-5-2.

Ireland (20pts) bt Kenya (0pts) by 65 runs