Kenya Secure Eight-Wicket Win Over Bermuda

Kenya Secure Eight-Wicket Win Over Bermuda
5 November 2007

Kenya Secure Eight-Wicket Win Over Bermuda
Hiren Varaiya, who took five wickets in Bermuda's first innings.
©REUTERS/Simon Baker (ST. LUCIA) Picture Supplied by Action Images
Kenya moved to the top of the ICC Intercontinental Cup table as it completed a comfortable eight-wicket win over Bermuda in Nairobi.Chasing 158 for victory and resuming at 79 without loss, openers Maurice Ouma (63) and David Obuya (70) took Kenya to within touching distance of the winning post with a stand of 107.And although both men were dismissed before success was achieved, Tony Suji (13 not out) and Collins Obuya (14 not out) completed the formalities as the home side finished at 161-2.Off-spinner Rodney Trott (1-36), one of the players that helped Bermuda qualify for next year’s ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia, bowled David Obuya after the batsman struck five fours and a six from 107 deliveries faced.The other wicket was claimed by another youngster, seamer Malachi Jones (1-22), who had Ouma caught by substitute fielder Kyle Hodsoll.Ouma added just 14 to his overnight score, but his innings, including eight fours and two sixes from just 67 balls, set the tone for his side’s comfortable march to victory.It took Kenya just 21.1 overs to knock off the remaining runs it required for victory on the final morning and in so doing it recorded its second successive win in the competition, having beaten Canada by nine wickets last month, also in Nairobi.The win places Steve Tikolo’s side six points clear of second-placed side the Netherlands in the eight-team first-class event for the leading Associate line-ups.Kenya still has five of its matches to play in the round-robin format but finishing as one of the top two sides is essential as only those two teams will go forward to play in next year’s final.Defending champion Ireland lies third in the ladder, five points behind the Dutch but three points ahead of Canada – which has played four matches, more than any other side so far.Scotland is level on points with Canada, Namibia is in sixth place with 20 points from a victory over the Canadians in the one match it has played so far, and the United Arab Emirates lies seventh with three points from a rain-ruined draw with the Scots.As for Bermuda, the loss means it has now failed to secure any points from three fixtures as it has also been defeated by the Netherlands and defending champions Ireland.The one crumb of comfort for the side coached by former West Indies batsman Gus Logie is that it showed itself to be far more competitive in this outing compared to the previous two games, which were both lost by an innings.That will be something positive for the players to take into their next encounter, against the United Arab Emirates in Sharjah starting on 8 November.That match will be the last in the tournament in 2007 with the remaining games to be played next year ahead of the final, which will take place at a date and location to be confirmed.