NAIROBI - Kenya beat Hong Kong by three wickets in their rain-affected first match of the World Cricket League Championship at the Nairobi Gymkhana club ground on Friday to secure two points.
Hong Kong bowler Ehsan Khan (L) and wicket-keeper James Carter (R) unsuccessfuly appeal for Kenya's batsman Irfan Karim (L) to be dismissed for leg before wicket (lbw) during the ICC World Cricket League Kenya vs Hong Kong on November 18, 2016
Set 223 to win, the Kenyan chase -- spearheaded by opener-cum-wicketkeeper Irfan Karim, who smashed 67 from 92 balls -- was jolted when rain twice interrupted play, forcing the target to be adjusted to 200 runs in 43 overs on the Duckworth-Lewis method.
The weather change also hit the rhythm of the match -- Karim and his second-wicket partner Dhiren Gondaria, who were steadily helping Kenya to recover after the loss of fellow opener Alex Obanda, were removed in quick succession.
Gondaria was snared by Ehsan Khan and Karim, whose innings included five fours and a six, soon followed.
The home side looked to be in disarray after skipper Rakep Patel, whose tight bowling had helped restrict the Hong Kong batting line-up, was trapped lbw off Khan with only four runs to his credit.
It took tailenders Narendra Patel and Nehemiah Odhiambo to push the Kenyan score beyond the 200 target, and put the home side in the driving seat before the second match on Sunday.
Anshuman Rath top-scored with 90 off 92 balls for Hong Kong, who needed all four points to go top of the eight-team ICC World Cricket League, which counts towards the 2019 World Cup in England.