Kenya Bat First In 2nd ODI

Over 47:

Thomas Odoyo determined that Kenya are going to be able to bowl to a total drives the first ball of Hasan's over right over the Stadium roof at long on for six. Ababu is nearly run out at the bowlers end next ball, but the tv umpire has him safe. It is all over two balls later however as Odoyo gives Hasan the charge, but too early and the bowler fires in a wide one to leave him stranded and he is easily stumped. The end of a fine innings from the all-rounder and one that at least means Kenya have a total to defend. 184 is still a good 60 runs too few in my opinion for the Gymkhana wicket, but after being 6/45 is really a very good recovery indeed. Thomas Odoyo did a fine job for his 84. He hit 7 fours and 4 sixes in making a game of it, but could not have done it had he not recieved support from the other batsmen down the bottom of the order. Mishra, Odhiambo, Ongondo and even Ababu at the end all played their part. Mishra will be unhappy with the method of his dismissal, as it was a perfect chance for him to play an innings of substance. Kenya have shown this year that we have several players able to produce the goods on any given day. Roger Harper's task is to try and ensure it is not only one or two of them that fire each time, but several. Only then will we start winning matches against the better teams out there. A quick note on Maurice Ouma as well. He played well for his 23, and did enough to warrant his re-selection. Just a shame that he also was out to a silly shot. Experience will help him in this and at least the single figure monkey is off his back.

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Kenya need to bowl very well in the opening few overs of the Bangladesh innings. A victory from here is unlikely, but Odoyo had Bangladesh rattled with his batting, and hopefully this will carry through to the rest of the bowlers. A man-of-the-match award is there for the taking for one of them if they do the required. All the best to them in their effort to earn it.

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Over 46:

Kenya get a little bit of luck when a throw to the bowler after they run one is fumbled and Odoyo is able to come back for the second. He then makes Mortaza pay the next ball, with a driven six followed by consecutice fours. Crowd are enjoying this finally. Morataza manages a dot bal, but Odoyo retains strike with a single off the last from an overthrow. Great over for him, he moves to 79, Kenya are now past yesterday's score on 9/178.

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Over 45:

Odoyo bravely takes a single off the first ball leaving Ababu to face the rest of the over. He manages to keep Hasan out and Kenya remain on 9/161. Yesterday, 168 proved not enough, and it is likely to be the same story again today. Still, Odoyo should be commended for his rescue effort and Odhiambo and Ongondo also for the part they played in the partnerships.

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Over 44:

Mortaza comes back into the attack and starts with a huge wide. Odoyo defends the first legal delivery then cuts the second for four. The batsmen run singles off the next three deliveries, Ongondo having a lovely on drive cut off by long on. It all ends in tears for Kenya however as Ongondo is out off the final ball, a thick edge of a slash well taken in the gully. Ongondo may only have made 13, but it was a vital partnership with Odoyo and has at least given Kenya something to bowl at. Josephat Ababu is Kenya's last man to come to the crease.

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Over 43:

Hasan bowling well to contain the batsmen. They exchange the strike off the first 2 balls to bring up the 150 for Kenya, but only one other run comes from the over. Kenya 8/152 with 7 overs to go.

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Over 42:

Razzak keeps Ongondo quiet for the first two balls before the Kenyan bowler works him away for a single. Odoyo, whose fifty came from 76 balls, gets a second run when his single to fine leg is fumbled. Well run by the batsmen. He retains strike with a single from the 5th ball.

Kenya 8/149, a good comeback considering where we were earlier.

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Over 41:

Ongondo survives an LBW appeal to give Odoyo the strike off a leg bye from the first ball. Two balls later and Odoyo takes a single to give him a really well earned and much needed 50, not only for Kenya in this match, but for him personally too. A great effort Thomas! Ongondo gets a single off the next ball to rotate strike.

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Over 40:

Razzak able to keep Thomas from getting his fifty off him. Well bowled, Odoyo only able to get 2 runs off the last ball.

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Over 39:

A goos battle between Hasan and Odoyo. The tv umpire comes to Thomas's aid with the first ball adjudged to have hit the rope despite an attempted save from the fielder off a sweep. Hasan bounces back with 3 dot balls and nearly gets a reward with the 5th ball that induces an edge. It goes past the keeper for 4 however and Kenya breath again. Odoyo pushes a single off the last ball to retain strike. He moves onto 47. Kenya 8/140

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Over 38:

Bangladesh persist with Razak who possible rattled from Odoyo's six in his last over starts with a big wide. Thomas mistimes his shot off the second, and Kenya only get a single. Peter Ongondo faces a couple of dot balls before, you guessed it, working the ball to square leg for 2. Razzak finishes with a dot ball, 4 off the over.

Kenya 8/131

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Over 37:

A tight one from Hasan, but Odoyo is able to get a single and Ongondo another 2, well run off the fifth ball. Kenya 8/127

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Over 36:

Odoyo gets no run off the first ball of Rafique's 6th over, but comes up with another wonderful driven six over the bowlers head the next ball. Putting trust in Ongondo, he takes a single off the 3rd ball. Ongondo repays this by working the fifth ball down to fine leg for 2. A good over from Kenya.

8/124

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Over 35:

Saqibul Hasan introduced to the attack and starts with a wide. Comes back well though, and Kenya only able to milk a couple of singles off the rest of his first over. Kenya 8/115

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Over 34:

Ongongo being put under the hammer, survives a big LBW appeal and gets a single off the 5th ball of the over. Odoyo decides that we needs some more runs and plays a wonderful drive for six. Fantastic shot and Kenya move to 8/112

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Over 33:

Odoyo gets off strike when the third ball comes off his pad for a leg bye. Bangladesh really attacking Ongondo trying to wrap up the Kenyan innings. He manages a single of the fifth ball.

8/105

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Over 32:

Odoyo is sent back off the first ball, but takes one off the second, flicking the ball down to fine leg. Ongondo stays put the rest of the over.

8/103

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Over 31:

Odhiambo on strike, but he is kept down by Raffique who gets his reward from the fifth ball with yet another LBW decision. Odhiambo changed his mind after starting a slog sweep and pays the price, out for 19 off 26. No disgrace his efforts as at least he put runs on the board. It may not have been exactly what Kenya neede, but at least he gave the scorers some trouble, and to be fair should not have had to be batting so early. Peter Ongondo Kenya's second last batsman comes to the crease and survives the final ball of the over, a wicket maiden.

8/102

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Over 30:

Odoyo takes a single from the second ball with an on drive. Odhiambo thumps the next ball for what looks like the first six of the innings, but the tv umpire rules it a four. Good use of the feet there by the youngster. Next ball, he makes sure sending the ball sailing over the ropes backward of square. Great shot. A single off the fifth ball, then a dot from the last complete Kenya's best over and take us past the 100 mark, finally something for the Kenyan fans to cheers about. Kenya 7/102

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Over 29:

Odhiambo living dangerously going the slog-sweep route. He gets 2 from it off the second ball, but it went high. A single off a sweep shot, again hit hard from the third ball. Odoyo is denied a 4 by good fielding by Saleh off the last ball, but takes a single to retain strike. He move on to 20, Kenya to 7/90.

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Over 28:

Rafique keeps Odoyo completely tied down - maiden over. Only one attemp at a scoring shot, and that went straight to a fielder.

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Over 27:

Razzak continues, and Odoyo pushes a single past cover off the second ball. A couple more singles come off the rest of the over, only 3 from it, but importantly no real scares either.

7/86

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Over 26:

Mohammad Rafique into the attack. Odoyo pushes a single to lon-on off the second ball. Odhiambo unable to get anything from the rest of the over. Odoyo sends him back off the last ball.

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Over 25:

Kenya somehow managing to survive to the half-way mark of the innings. Odhiambo scampers a quick single off the third ball, a referal to the third umpire after a direct hit deeming him safe. Razzak keeps Odoyo pinned down for the rest of the over, only a single off the last ball retaining strike.

7/82

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Over 24:

Odoyo crashes a half volley to the boundary to start Mortaza's 7th over. He then takes a quick single off the second putting trust in the young tail ender. Odhiambo looks like he is going to go down swinging. Nearly out a couple of times, but at least gets 3 off the last ball. It is not really the approach Kenya need, but he is keeping to his natural game which is fair enough. Kenya 7/80. If the bowlers want something to bowl at, it is entirely up to them now.

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Over 23:

Odoyo survives an LBW appeal off the first ball, and gets a single a couple later. Mishra is not so lucky given out LBW for 17 after he misses a slog sweep. Poor shot selection, and unneccessary when what Kenya need is to try and bat out the innings. 7/72 at the end of the over. Very poor performance from Kenya with the bat. Odhiambo is the new batsman.

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Over 22:

Mortaza continues. Tanmay plays and misses at the first, but takes a single off the second. Odoyo rotates strike with a single. Dot balls for the rest of the over as Mortaza tests Mishra with a couple short of a length. Kenya 6/70

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Over 21:

A couple of dot balls start the over before Thomas cuts the third for a single. Mishra fares better from the next one, but his pull to square leg is fielded before it reaches the boundary. Kenya run 3. The over ends as it began with two dot balls. 6/68.

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Over 20:

3 singles taken from this as the batsmen rotate the strike. Mishra not happy with missing out on runs seems to be practicing a few strokes.

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Over 19:

Rasel's last. Kenya decide to let him finish without any more wickets so it is a maiden. A great effort from him to finish with 4/22 off his 10. Kenya are going to rue those figures.

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Over 18:

Mishra does well in avoiding a bouncer first ball, then gives Odoyo the strike from the second ball. Thomas Odoyo pulls the next ball for 4 before they take two more singles from the penultimate two balls. A better over from Kenya, 6/61.

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Over 17:

Mishra escapes on the second ball as Asraful doesn't come in for the catch at mid-off. He takes Kenya past the 50 with a four off the 4th ball of over, the rest going for dot balls. Mishra again lucky as he edges the last ball to a vacant third slip.

6/54.

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Over 16:

Mishra takes 2 to third man off the second ball, then a single to the same area off the 4th. Odoyo remains runless as the over concludes. Kenya looking stretched to even make triple figures at the moment.

6/49.

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Over 15:

Odoyo joins Mishra who gets a single off the first ball of Rasel's over. Odoyo pinned down for the remaining balls.

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Over 14:

Both Modi, then Mishra get off the mark with singles off the first and third balls of the over. Kenya get another run through a wide off the 5th, but it is certainly Bangladesh's day as they get another LBW decision, this time against Modi who is beaten by a real pearler. Drinks are taken, and make mine a vodka. Triple strength to dull the pain. Kenya 6/45.

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Over 13:

This is looking like a short night for me. Obuya returns to the pavilion caught by square leg for 1. Rasel now has 4 wickets. If Kenya do not shore up now, the match will be all over by lunch! Mishra joins Modi at the crease. One day Kenya may beat Bangladesh again regularly, but right now, that day is looking a long way away.

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Over 12:

Disaster. Tikolo is out for a duck, LBW to Mortaza despite getting an inside edge onto the pad. Not only did the earlier batsmen get themselves out, but now a poor umpiring decision means Kenya are now in real strife. Bloody hell - the one thing we really did not need! Bangladesh well in the ascendancy now, but that is a huge decision to get wrong. Obuya comes to the crease and is immediately off the mark with a single. A wide and dot ball end a terrible over from Kenya's perspective. People may talk about bad decisions being swings and roundabouts, but the Kenyan team must feel like the kid that falls off the swing and lands crotch first on the roundabout.

4/42.

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Over 11:

Rasel keeps Ouma pinned down. Kenya need to make sure they don't lose another wicket here, we need to build a good partnership. A mis-field by Razzak allows Ouma 2 off the fourth ball. Lucky. Disaster strikes next ball. Ouma tries to belt a short one to the boundary, but only succeeds in top edging it to square leg. Kenya's third batsman back in the pavilion at a stage when we really should have been consolidating. A shame, as Ouma had been looking ok so far. His innings finishes on 26 off 31. A good start, just a shame that a loose shot prevents him going on from it. Hitesh Modi now joins Tikolo at the crease. Hopefully their experience will steady the ship.

Kenya 3/40.

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Over 10:

Ouma gets his third boundary off the second ball of the over with an edge down to fine leg. Kenya don't mind we'll take them any which way. Ouma then gives Tikolo the strike off the penultimate ball, again the runs coming on the on side. No run off the last ball, Kenya 2/38.

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Over 9:

Rasel continues and Kamande is able to work the first ball away on the leg side for a single. Ouma goes two better the next ball, again the runs coming on the leg side. Rasel then bowls a wide before coming back to give Jimmy real trouble with the next three balls, two short and wide of off. Runs going begging here with Kamande not comfortable with the angle from the left hander. Rasel gets his reward off the last ball with Kamande out nicking one through to the keeper. He is out for 3 off 19. His selection at three not bearing the fruis hoped for after his 68 against Canada. Kenya now 2/33. Tikolo should be in next, and will again be asked to produce a big innings to help Kenya to a competetive total.

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Over 8:

Ouma pushes an easy single off the first ball. He is doing well to rotate the strike, he just needs his partner to come to the party as well. Kamande however defends the first two balls, being soundly beaten by the second. Finally, he gets his second run. Ouma is so surprised there is a bit of a mix up in the running, but all safe. A dot ball finishes the over, Kenya 1/28.

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Over 7:

Ouma drives infront of square leg for four off the first ball. Rasel responds with four dot balls. Ouma gets some bat on ball though, but not the runs. A leg bye off the final ball keeps Ouma on strike. He is now on 15 from 18. Kamande is 1 from 10. Kenya 1/26.

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Over 6:

Reza bowls a dot ball to start, then gets Ouma to edge the second, but it is safe and Kenya get a run. Kamande still only with the 1 run plays defensively leaving 2 and defending another as no further runs are taken. Getting his eye in is fine, but he cannot afford another innings like yesterdays. He needs to start getting some runs himself so as to keep the presure off his partner and the batsmen to follow. Kenya 1/21 and the run rate has dropped to 3.5.

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Over 5:

Kamande looking a little shaky. Two dot balls before he finally gets off the mark with a Kijabe Glide down to fine leg. Ouma immediately returns him to strike with an easy single. This is better from the opener, lets hope he can maintain his composure. Kamande defends the rest of the over, so only the 2 runs. Kenya 1/20 after 5.

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Over 4:
This will be a real test for Kamande and Ouma, both having glaringly failed in the first innings. Ouma hits his first boundary of the day off the third ball, capitalising on a half volley down leg. He then follows it up with a 2 the next ball, then repeats the shot through cover for another pair the next ball. 8 off the over, a good one for Kenya and one that will help raise Ouma's confidence. Kenya 1/18. Run rate 4.5.
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Over 3:
Ouma finally gets off the mark in the third over having watched Otieno face the first two. The change of striker however brings the downfall of the wicketkeeper adjudged LBW to Syed Rasel. Kenya's trouble at the top of the order continues. Rasel finishes with a dot ball to leave Kenya 1/10 after 3. A sad start for Kenya and Otieno in particular. Jimmy Kamande is the next man in.
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Steve Tikolo has won the toss and Kenya have elected to bat in the second ODI being played at Nairobi Gymkhana. It is only the third over, but so far 8 runs on the board, including a four from Kennedy Otieno. The selectors have stayed with the same opening pair from the first game, so lets hope they are able to come up with something more today.