Ireland Thrash Kenya In Opening T20

Ireland Thrash Kenya In Opening T20

Kevin O'Brien saw Ireland home in typical bombastic fashion in Mombasa.

©REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri. Picture Supplied by Action Images

Ireland 109-4 (O’Brien 30no) beat
Kenya 107 (Dockrell 3-15) by six wickets
First Twenty20 International, Mombasa
Scorecard

Ireland eased past Kenya to record a comprehensive six-wicket victory in the first of three Twenty20 Internationals between the two sides in Mombasa. 

George Dockrell was the star for the Irish, ending with figures of three for 15 from his four overs, after skipper William Porterfield had won the toss and asked the hosts to bat. He removed both Kenyan openers inside the first three overs after being entrusted with the new ball, before returning later in the innings to have Shem Ngoche caught in the deep for three.

In between times, the rest of the visitors’ bowlers were almost as impressive, with Alex Cusack and Max Sorensen each picking up a brace of wickets, to bowl the Kenyans out for just 107 from the final ball of their innings. Indian-born Tanmay Mishra – who recently signed for Indian Premier League side Deccan Chargers – was the most successful of the home side’s batsmen with a 30-ball 34, while former Sussex all-rounder Ragheb Aga chipped in with 25.

In reply, Porterfield was run-out early on for one by Rakep Patel, and Cusack and Paul Stirling fell just after reaching double figures, but innings of 30 not out and 24 from Kevin O’Brien and Ed Joyce ensured against any real alarms, before John Mooney (16 not out from eight balls) finished things with a flourish.

The win means that Ireland enter the official ICC Twenty20 rankings for the first time – they have now played eight international matches since August 2009 – in 10th position – ahead of Zimbabwe – and know that a series whitewash here in Mombasa will propel them into ninth place ahead of Afghanistan.

© Cricket World 2012