A much changed Kenyan outfit delivered a telling blow to the visiting United Arab Emirates (UAE) team in the first of two 50-over matches between the two nations by beating their opponents by a commanding 66 runs win by the D/L method following a rain affected match played at the Nairobi Gymkhana oval.
Kenya won the toss and opted to bat and were in trouble earlier on finding themselves on 21 for the loss of three wickets after UAE paceman Shoiab Sarwar had claimed new captain Collins Obuya (1), debutant Runish Gudhka (9) and Rakep Patel (0).
However, the local lads were to recover through a solid 133-run partnership between Tanmay Mishra’s and Rajesh Varsani’s which restored some pride and propelled the locals to post a challenging total of 210.
In reply, UAE got off to a poor start losing the first wicket in the first over when Rajesh Bhuiya trapped Bakhtiyar Palekar for nought in only the second ball of their innings. He was soon to be followed by Shaimar Anwar, Saqib Ali and skipper Khurram Khan within 7 overs courtesy of Bhudiya’s excellent spell. Bhudiya finished on an impressive 5 for 21 off his seven overs and was the toast of the Kenyan bowling attack.
UAE had no answer to Kenya’s onslaught and when the heavens opened up in Nairobi last evening it only confirmed the facts yet again as the Kenyan’s were way ahead on the duckworth-lewis method. with the par score at 186, UAE had only achieved 119 for 8 in 35 overs and thereby handing the Kenyans a much needed win.
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