In the battle of associates, Ireland proved too good for Kenya in the first of the three T20I matches at Mombasa. Combination of disciplined bowling and feckless batting saw Kenya collapse to 107 all-out. In reply, Ireland overhauled the target with six wickets and 4.3 overs to spare.
Right from the point William Porterfield inserted Kenya, Ireland were pretty much in control. Only Tanmay Mishra and Ragheb Aga offered some resistance as George Dockrell and company scythed through the Kenyan batting to dismiss them for a modest total. Dockrell picked up three wickets while as Alex Cusack and Max Sorensen got a brace each.
Ireland’s ploy of opening with a spinner paid immediate dividends. He removed both the openers in an almost identical fashion-caught by Trent Johnston at first slip- in his two over spell. Skipper Collins Obuya was trapped in front by Boyd Rankin, reducing Kenya to 11 for 3. Rakep Patel tried to push the scoring along but missed a straight Sorensen delivery to be clean bowled.
Tanmay Mishra, who had already got a life, was joined by Ragheb and the two collected 48 runs for the fifth wicket. Mishra hit two sixes in 34 at better than run-a-ball and Ragheb made 25. Once the stand was broken, Kenya fell apart. The last six wickets could only add 34 runs. As a result, Ireland had to chase a target that was well below par.
Even though, Ireland also lost Porterfield only in the first over but Kenyan bowlers lacked the intensity to make the early breakthrough count. They sprayed the new ball, thereby allowing Ireland to get off to a swift start. After four overs, Ireland had raced to 33 for one.
The hosts pulled back things a bit by removing Paul Stirling and Cusack in successive overs. However, Kevin O’Brien and former English international Ed Joyce combined in a swift 47-run stand to end all the Kenyan hopes.
Joyce made a breezy 24 that was laced with three crunching boundaries. O’Brien stayed till the end to remain unbeaten on 30 and John Mooney smashed 16 in eight deliveries to hasten end of the game.
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