CRICKET ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL SERIES: IRELAND SKIPPER William Porterfield backed up his coach's assertion that Kenya could be in for a backlash in Clontarf yesterday as he hit 81 runs to help his side secure a three-wicket victory to go 1-0 up in the three-game RSA Challenge Series.
The 24-year-old was left out of Gloucestershire’s Friends Provident Trophy semi-final defeat to Sussex last Sunday, but he showed his value as a well-measured knock paved the way for Phil Simmons’s side to chase down a target of 215 with seven balls to spare.
Porterfield played down his demotion from last weekend’s game, and was just delighted to spend some quality time at the crease. “It was disappointing not to play last week, but I’ve no qualms with the decision, it’s a professional sport. It’s always nice to come back here and get a few runs and it’s important to keep in good nick so when I go back to Gloucester I hit the ground running,” said Porterfield.
The other star turn for Ireland came from off-spinner Kyle McCallan, who showed yet again how invaluable he is to this side on his 221st international appearance with four wickets for 30 runs, his best ODI figures. The value of them is increased markedly by the fact they were the first four wickets to fall as the Waringstown player helped claw Kenya back after they got off to a good start having won the toss. Brothers David and Kennedy Obuya put on 80 for the first wicket, before Gary Wilson showed lightning reactions to stump Kennedy for 41. McCallan would then add two in the space of three deliveries to see off Alex Obanda (25) and the dangerous Steve Tikolo for just one, while Kenyan skipper Morris Ouma would become his fourth victim off his penultimate delivery.
Alex Cusack, on his home patch, chipped in with three wickets, including David Obuya after he top-scored with 78, helping restrict the African side to 214 for nine after at one stage being 126 for one in the 31st over.
Porterfield also took three catches during the innings and showed he had his eye in as he backboned Ireland’s reply. He added 45 for the second wicket with Cusack (30) and 51 with Kevin O’Brien before he departed in the 37th over when his attempt to hit a third straight boundary ended up in the hands of Collins Obuya at backward point, with the score on 152 for four.
Ireland suffered a late wobble with the loss of John Mooney (27) and Andrew White (19), with McCallan scoring the winning run off a misfield.
The Leinster Cricket Union have put back this weekend’s Lewis Hohn Williams Senior Cup semi-finals to Saturday, July 25th due to the participation of three players from the competing clubs against Kenya.
Ed Joyce’s week turned sour when he became the victim of a freak dismissal as Sussex held off buoyant Warwickshire in a County Championship clash at Edgbaston.
Four days after leading his new county to the Friends Provident Trophy final with a century against Gloucestershire, the former Middlesex batsman was bizarrely caught when he swept the left arm spinner, Ant Botha.
Jonathan Trott took evasive action at short leg but as he turned away the ball somehow dropped into his right-hand trouser pocket.
Law 32 says a fielder has fairly completed a catch “if the ball accidentally lodges in his clothing.”
Castle Avenue Scoreboard
Kenya won the toss and batted.
KENYA
D Obuya st Wilson b McCallan 41
K Obuya B Cusack 78
A Obanda lbw b McCallan 25
S Tikolo c Porterfield b McCallan 1
M Ouma lbw b McCallan 6
C Obuya b Cusack 20
T Odoyo not out 17
J Kamande c Porterfield b Rankin 1
N Odhiambo c Porterfield b Cusack 4
P Ongondo run out 6
H Viraiya not out 1
Extras(b 1, w 13) 14
Total(for 9 wkts, 50 ovs) 214
Fall of wickets: 1-80, 2-126, 3-130, 4-146, 5-176, 6-187, 7-190, 8-199, 9-210.
Bowling: B Rankin 10-2-33-1; T Johnston 10-0-48-0; A Cusack 7-0-37-3; KO'Brien 2-0-15-0; R West 10-1-39-0; K McCallan 10-0-30-4; A White 1-0-11-0.
IRELAND
W Porterfield c C Oboyo b Odoyo 81
G Wilson lbw b Odoyo 13
A Cusack b Varaiya 30
A Botha st Ouma b Tikolo 10
K O’Brien c Ouma b Odoyo 16
A White C Varaiya b Odoyo 19
J Mooney c C Oboyu b Tikolo 27
T Johnston not out 9
K McCallan not out 4
Extras(lb3, nb2, w1) 6
Total(for 7 wkts, 48.5 ovs) 215
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-72, 3-101, 4-152, 5-161, 6-200, 7-202.
Bowling: T Odoyo 10-2-33-4; P Ongondo 7-0-42-0; N Odhiambo 8-0-41-0; S Tikolo 9.5-0-31-2; H Varaiya 10-1-39-1; J Kamande 4-0-26-0.
Ireland won by 3 wkts to take 1-0 lead in the three-match series
