Kenya has lost the first two games of a four game series against Zimbabwe A at the Matare Sports Club. This series helps Kenya prepare for the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 that starts on February 2, 2018 in Namibia. It may also assist some of the Zimabwean players prepare for the upcoming World Cup Qualifier although Zimbabwe’s national team has just played in a Tri-Series with Bangaldesh and Sri Lanka in Bangladesh.
On January 29, Kenya A scored 219/8 from 50 overs then saw Zimbabwe A power to 221/4 after 23.1 overs lead by 131 runs from 52 balls by left-handed opening bat Cephas Zhuwao. Zhuwao blasted 13 sixes and 10 boundaries before being second out, caught with 174 on the board from 15.3 overs
Zhuwao was one of three wickets to fall to right arm seamer Dhiren Gondaria, who ended with 3/36 from 4.1 overs. Veteran left-arm spinner Hiren Varaiya produced Kenya’s most economic bowling with 0/25 from 4 overs.
Kenyan captain Rakep Patel top-scored with 49. Karan Kaul made 48* featuring in stands of 57 for the sixth wicket with Patel and 58 for the seventh wicket with Nelson (NM) Odhiambo (35). Earlier, opening bat Alex Obanda (30) and Irfan Karim (30) had added 56 for the second wicket. Left-arm pacer Richard Ngarava took 3/32 from 10 overs.
On Wednesday (January 31, 2018) in the second game, Cephas Zhuwao hit 44 from 27 balls before being caught with 51 on the board for Zimbabwe A after 4.3 overs. Captain and left-hand bat Prince Masurave chipped in with 69 (98 balls), Timycen Maruma struck 86 from 108 balls and wicketkeeper Ryan Murray made 45 from 51 balls as Zimbabwe A clocked up 299 for 8 from 50 overs.
Alex Obanda scored a brisk 22 from 14 runs but Kenya never came to terms with the demands of the run chase and stumbled to 141 all out after 31 overs. Collins Obuya made 23, Nelson Odhiambo 20 and Rakep Patel 19 in the middle order. Left-arm seamer Brian Vitori took 3/24 and leg-spinner Brandon Mavuta 4/45 from 7 overs.
The teams are due to play three more 50 over games on Friday (Feb 2) and Sunday (Feb 4). A T20 game is scheduled for Tuesday (Feb 6) before Kenya moves off to Namibia for WCL Division 2 to face the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, February 8, 2018.
Nepal beat Kenya in December 2017
Kenya had played Nepal in a 50-over game in the UAE on December 3, 2017 that was not part of the 2015-2017 World Cricket League Championship. Kenya made just 110 all out from 32.2 overs. Opening bats Rushab Patel (27) and Alex Obanda (25) lead the scoring. Gurdeep Singh made 22 batting at number seven. Left-arm seamer Lalit Bhandari took 4/46 from 10 overs and young leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane 2/5 from 3.2 overs for Nepal.
Nepal soon lost both opening bats, but captain Sharad Vesawkar made 31* (51 balls) and number five bat Dipendra Airee 46 to carry Nepal to a winning 111/4 after 20.5 overs.