November 23, 2023
Kenya ( 124 for 6 ) beat Nigeria ( 121 for 7 ) by 4 wickets.
Two places are available in the 2024 Cricket World T20 finals from the Africa Region qualifier currently being held in Namibia, with the finals to be played next June in the Caribbean and the USA.
The first stage of African qualifying was held in Rwanda last November and saw Kenya and Rwanda progress from Group A with Nigeria and Tanzania qualifying from Group B. As a result, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, St Helena, Seychelles, Cameroon, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Mozambique and Sierra Leone were eliminated.
Those four qualifiers joined Namibia and Zimbabwe, who participated in the 2022 T20 Finals, and Uganda, who competed in the 2022 Global qualifier.
All matches are being streamed live on the ICC.TV website
Kenya Cricket History
Kenya hit the global cricketing headlines during the 1996 World Cup in India when they surprisingly defeated a West Indies side including Brian Lara, Richie Richardson, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jimmy Adams, Roger Harper, Ian Bishop, Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh by 73 runs in Pune. Captain Maurice Odumbe was the man of the match for his 3 for 15 in 10 overs with his off-spin.
Kenya did even better in the 2003 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals, the best ever performance by an Associate nation in the World Cup. Canada and Sri Lanka were beaten in Nairobi by 6 wickets and 53 runs respectively, Bangladesh by 32 runs in Johannesburg, and with New Zealand forfeiting their match over safety concerns, Kenya were through to the Super 6s stage. Although they lost to India and Australia, a 7 wicket victory over Zimbabwe took Kenya to the semi-finals.
India were again too strong, but despite losing by 91 runs, Kenya left the competition with their heads held high.
The mainstays of their 2003 team were captain Steve Tikolo with 206 runs ( two fifties ) and 9 wickets with his off-spin, Maurice Odumbe with 211 runs and 9 wickets, opening bat Kennedy Otieno with 182 runs and two fifties, plus leg spinner Collins Obuya who took 13 wickets, including 5 for 24 against Sri Lanka. Medium pacer Thomas Odoyo claimed 9 wickets and contributed useful runs in the middle order, whilst opening bowler Martin Suji took 8 wickets in the competition. Ravi Shah scored 265 runs ( two fifties ) to top their run list.
Kenya have not been able to repeat these highs, and despite qualifying for the 2007 and 2011 finals, they won only one match, against Canada. They have not qualified since, and their only appearance in the T20 finals was in the first tournament in 2007.
One of my few claims to fame is that I have played against Maurice Odumbe and was sledged by him when I was playing for Ajax in the Netherlands ! In 1998, Odumbe was the overseas pro at Dutch club Quick 1888 Nijmegen, who were looking to achieve promotion to the top level of Dutch cricket. We were bottom of the second division table.
Odumbe came in at 11 for 2 and soon disdainfully despatched three quick boundaries. However, an arrogant flick off his legs rocketed to mid-wicket where an outstanding catch was taken. After his dismissal, Quick subsided to 103, and a shock win was on the cards. Our openers slowly took the score to 68 before the first wicket fell and I went in to bat at number three, nursing a broken finger sustained whilst dropping a catch on the boundary during the Quick innings.
I tentatively played and missed at two balls in the first over I faced, and left the other four. Maurice was fielding at short leg and exclaimed I had a very expensive bat. I agreed with him and explained I had got it direct from Hunts at their factory in Gloucester for a good price and showed it to him. Odumbe looked bemused and never said another word as we cruised to an 8 wicket win, and I was 13 not out at the end. It was only after the game I realised he meant I wasn’t hitting the ball as I didn’t want to risk any damage to my valuable bat. My response must had made him think he was never going to be able to ruffle me !
The Kenya squad for these qualifiers contained some familiar names. At 43 years old, Collins Obuya is still playing, albeit now as a batsman after his leg-spin went into decline after catching the yips. Wicket-keeper Irfan Karim is the son of spinner Aasif Karim, who played in both the 1996 and 2003 World Cups, and Nelson Mandela Odhiambo is the nephew of Thomas Odoyo. Shem Ngoche is the younger brother of Lameck Onyango, who was a specialist number 11 for Kenya in the 1990s and 2000s.
Kenya had gone through their qualifying group unbeaten, and were seen by many as the main threat to Zimbabwe and Namibia for the two qualifying places. Obuya won the batsman of the tournament, scoring 205 runs at an average of 102.50
The Simbas had won their opening fixture yesterday against Rwanda but it was far from convincing, and victory was only by 17 runs. After clocking up 154 for 2 in their twenty overs, with Collins Obuya scoring 50 and Irfan Karim scoring 63 not out, their bowling failed to impress as Rwanda responded with 137 for 4.
Captain Rakap Patel was forced to retire hurt during the Kenyan innings yesterday and so missed today’s match at the United Ground in Windhoek.
Nigeria Cricket Side
Nigeria were playing their first match in the tournament. Not
a great deal was known about their side, ironically coached by Kenyan legend
Steve Tikolo, who had stated there was a lot of young talented players in the
country.The Nigerian Cricket Board have ambitious plans to become the third best side in Africa in the next 5 years.
Nigeria had won all 6 matches played in the first qualifying round, with the match against Tanzania rained off. Bowling appeared to be their main strength, with Peter Aho taking 11 wickets, Isaac and Sylvester Okpe took 9 wickets each, and Ridwan Abdul Kareem had 8 victims.
Wicket-keeper Ashmat Shreshta was the top run scorer in that tournament with 186 runs, but wasn’t selected for today’s game, and opener Sulaimon Runsewe had scored 148 runs. No-one else had totalled more than 100 runs. Runsewe, ( a good name for a batsman ! ) was selected as the wicket-keeper for today.
Nigeria Innings
Kenya won the toss and stand in captain Lucas Oluoch, confusingly named Ndandason on the TV graphics elected to field.
The tall Lucas Olouch/Ndandason opened the bowling with some brisk left arm medium fast over the wicket. The first ball was wide and slashed to point by Runsewe but there was no run, after which a wide opened the Nigerian account. Runsewe and Daniel Ajekun both steered balls to third man to get off the mark, before Runsewe played a drop and run for a good single. Ajekun played and missed off last ball of the over attempting a loose drive, so it was 4-0 after one over.
Left arm spinner Vraj Patel opened at the other end bowling around the wicket, but his first ball was driven high and straight by Runsewe for first boundary of the innings, and the next ball was dragged short and pulled for a single. Ajekun played out four dots to finish the over with the score 10 for 0.
Olouch struck in the third over. The ball would have been a wide down the leg side but Ajekun attempted to play a pull shot, but the ball flicked off his glove for Karim to take the catch. It looked like Akejun had been beaten for pace, and he was out for 2 to make it 10 for 1.
Adimola Onikoyi was in at number 3 and thought he had got off the mark second ball with a short push to the leg side with more good running scampered a quick single, but the umpire signalled a leg bye. Kenya were attacking and had two slips in, but again Olouch’s direction was down the leg side, and Runsewe was able to push to long leg for another single. At the end of the third over it was 12 for 1.
Runsewe didn’t last much longer though, and in Patel’s second over he pushed forward and was caught off the outside edge at slip by Rushab Patel diving to his right. Runsewe was out for 8
Sesan Adedeji was the number 4 and with the ball turning Patel also now had two slips in place. Two singles enabled both new batsmen to get off the mark and the score move to 14 for 2 after 4 overs.
Emmanual Bundi came on to bowl the 5th over, with the TV graphics naming him Ringera. His first ball was a medium paced loosner, short and wide, and was slapped to the cover boundary by Onikoyi. The third ball of the over was also short outside the off-stump and cut past third man for 4 more. Onikoyi then took a quick single but might have been in danger had the throw from Obuya been a direct hit, after which Adedeji played and missed at the last ball of the over. It was now 23 for 2 off 5 overs.
Vraj Patel struck again in the next over as Onikoyi meekly chipped back to the bowler for a simple caught and bowled. He was out for 10.
Isaac Danladi came in at number 5 and first ball edged between the two slips for two, after which the next ball spun past his outside edge. He then stepped back to a shorter ball to cut past point for 4 and then another edge produced a single. At the end of the Powerplay the score was 30 for 3 and Patel had 2 for 15 from 3 overs, and his figures could easily have been better.
Bundi continued and was steered behind point for a single as the Nigerian batsmen appeared to show a liking for pace on the ball but were struggling against spin. Adedeji also pushed another single, then Danladi cut for two more.
Bundi had a big appeal for LBW but the ball looked to be going down leg-side. Another wide ball was slashed at and missed although the ball might have kept a bit low. When Bundi finally found a good length, it cut away off the pitch leaving Danladi beaten all ends up. The Nigeria score had now crawled to 34 for 3 off 7 overs.
Patel was allowed to bowl out his allotted overs and was greeted with a back foot drive through the covers for one by Adedeji. Patel then found some turn and bounce to beat Danladi, with a smart take from keeper Karim. The last ball of Patel’s spell was steered to third man, a productive shot for the Nigerian batsmen as Patel finished with 2 for 17 from his 4 overs. Danladi was still there on 11, with the score 36 for 3 from 8 overs.
Pushkar Sharma replaced Bundi with some slow left-arm seam up as Danladi pushed another run to the backward point region, but some wobble seam found the edge of Adedeji’s bat and was well taken by Karim standing up to the stumps to take the score to 37 for 4. Adedeji had gone for just 3 runs.
The next batsman was Isaac Okpe, who looked much taller than the previous Nigerian batsman. Two singles came from the rest of Sharma’s over leaving Nigeria precariously placed at 39 for 4 with 9 overs gone.
18 year old Vishil Patel replaced Vraj Patel ( no relation ) to bowl some leg spin and his first over yielded four singles.
Okpe was dropped at short-extra cover in Sharma’s next over, with a fierce drive going through the fielder’s hands, and five more singles now made the score 47 for 4 off 11 overs.
Nigeria were being slowly squeezed to death and although Danladi cut a wide ball from Vishil Patel for 4, there were three dots to finish. Okpe then missed out on a full toss from Sharma, and three more dots followed. A dab for a single took Okpe off strike and a floaty attempted Chinaman from Sharma was clubbed straight for 6 by Danladi. The score had moved to 60 for 4 off 13 overs. Sharma’s figures were now 1for 15 from 3 overs and the 21 year-old Danladi had scored 27 runs from 29 overs.
Okpe's painful vigil ended with an attempted slog against Patel going high in the air, and Obuya running towards the boundary from extra cover took a superb catch over his shoulder. Okpe had to go for 8 and it was now 60 for 5.
Ridwan Abdul Kareem strode out at number 7 and with two slips still in place got off the mark with a push into the vacant gap at mid-wicket. Danladi aimed a big slog at googly and missed to end the 14 over with the score 61 for 5. Vishil Patel had 1 for 10 from his three overs.
The well built Ngoche came on to bowl some more left arm spin and after two singles Kareem then steered off the face of his bat for Rushab Patel to take another tumbling catch at slip. Nigeria were now 63 for 6 and Kenya appeared to be cantering to an easy win.
17 year-old Prosper Useni was the number 8 and the first left-hander of the innings. The first ball he received was short and pulled to the deep mid-wicket boundary.
Useni then took a liking to Vishil Patel’s leg spin turning into him. A fumble in the deep allowed two runs from a slog sweep, then Useni clubbed the next delivery straight down the ground for 4. Another slog-sweep went for six before Useni pushed a single to keep the strike. The score had now jumped to 81 for 6 with 4 overs remaining and Patel’s figured had been dented, to be 1 for 24 from his four overs.
Danladi paddle swept to midwicket for a sharp single and had to dive to make his ground. Useni feasted on a rank long hop from Ngoche, rocking back to smack over deep mid-wicket and out of the ground for 6 more. After two singles, Useni sent an over-pitched delivery over wide mid-on for the second six out of the ground in the over and his third maximum of the match. With 16 off the over the score had raced up to 97 for 6 with 3 overs left, and Useni was on 30 runs off 10 balls.
Kenya turned to Nelson Odhiambo, their 7th bowler used. Odhiambo had a fast run up with his long dreadlocks flowing but his pace was strictly military medium. However, the batsman found him difficult to put away and only 5 runs came from the over.
Oluoch returned to bowl the penultimate over. An in-swinging yorker narrowly missed the off-stump but a repeat effort skewed off edge of Useni’s bat down to third man for 4. After a single, Danladi took a step down the wicket to hammer a wide half volley past point for 4 more. Oluoch then decided to go around the wicket, with Danladi swinging and missing at a slower ball. Another slower ball was drilled straight for one to finish the over, with Nigeria now 112 for 6 off 19 overs.
A good slower ball from Odhiambo to start the last over saw Danladi play far too early and the ball trickled through to keeper. However, from the fourth ball he stepped across his wicket and pulled a shorter ball for 6. A yorker was dug out for a single and at the last ball, Useni took a big swing and nicked through to the keeper to be dismissed. He had made a potentially game changing 37 from 19 balls.
Danladi finished not out for 46 off 46 balls and the partnership of 58 for the 7th wicket had given Nigeria a fighting chance at 121 for 7 from their 20 overs.
Kenya Innings
Rushab Patel and Collins Obuya opened the batting for Kenya with the powerfully built Peter Aho opening the bowling for Nigeria. Patel pushed a single from the third ball but Obuya played and missed at the next, with good carry through to keeper. There was a bit of in-swing from the next ball, before Obuya played and missed again. It was 2 for 0 from the first over.
Chiemelle Udekwe was the other opening bowler, with a skippy, energetic run and a bit of a windmill action. However, his direction was lacking to the left-hander, bowling three wides down the leg-side. It would have been a great line to the right-hander though. Patel did pull a single off his legs, but Udekwe’s line and length was much better to Obuya, forcing a forward defensive. Obuya got off the mark next ball, getting the bat to a wide half volley, and good fielding at third man kept it to a single.
Udekwe had a big appeal for a catch down leg side off Patel but the umpire judged it was off the thigh pad. It was a good take by keeper nevertheless. After 2 overs it was 8 without loss.
Aho continued to bowl tightly and when Obuya pushed into the offside and set off for a run, a superb direct hit from point could have been a run-out but Patel just was home. Patel then pulled a loose ball to the boundary to take the score to 14 for 0 off 3 overs.
Udekwe then dropped short, allowing Obuya to stand and deliver, and pull to mid-wicket for his first boundary. However, the Nigerian seamer got his revenge, pitching up and finding the leading edge of Obuya’s bat, with the ball sailing gently for Isaac Okpe to take the catch at mid-off. The bowler was already celebrating the wicket even before the catch had been taken, great enthusiasm for a big wicket. After making 50 against Rwanda, Obuya was out for just 6 and it was 18 for 1.
Left-handed Irfan Karim walked in at number three and from an unconvincing prod, called for a single. A direct would have run out Patel but the throw just missed. It felt like a run out was just a matter of time and good fielding in the covers twice stopped more runs. It was 20 for 1 at the end of fourth over.
Isaac Okpe was brought on to bowl the 5th over. He had a tall action, a bit like Curtley Ambrose but at a fraction of the pace, but he kept pitching the ball up and Patel couldn’t get him away, until the last ball, when with a hint of desperation, Patel lofted straight for 4. These were the only runs off the over and the score moved to 24 for 1 off 5 overs.
Useni came on to bowl some left arm medium for the 6th over. Karim took 2 from the first ball but almost chopped on from the third ball. There were just four from the over with the score now 28 for 1 off 6 overs.
It was starting to get windy and a few spots of rain were failing. The ground staff were getting ready with the covers.
22 year-old Nigeria captain Sylvester Okpe brought himself on, bowling off spin with a hopping run. Another sharp single saw another throw and miss that could have been out with a direct hit but only four singles were taken off the over. At this point Kenya were 4 runs behind on DLS.
Danladi was introduced for the 8th over, bowling off spin from around the wicket to the left-handers and running between the umpire and wicket. Karim played and missed, and then drove for a couple. He then played and missed again with an appeal for caught behind but the umpire was unmoved. Again, just 4 came from the over, taking the score to 36 for 1 off 8 overs.
The rain had now got heavier leading to the umpires taking the players off the field. Kenya were 6 runs behind on DLS, and if the rain continued there would be a shock result.
Fortunately for Kenya the rain delay was only around 30 minutes so no overs were lost, and upon the restart Patel showed much more urgency, hitting a 4 and 2 from Sylvester Okpe, but more athletic fielding from the Nigerians prevented any further runs from the over. 42 for 1 off 9 overs.
Sukhdeep Singh had replaced Kareem at the resumption, with the Kenyan keeper retiring hurt with a back injury. Patel then lofted Danladi for 6, and with lightning in the distance, play continued. A mis-field in the wet outfield allowed two more and with 11 from the over, the Kenya score had moved to 52 for 1 off 10 overs, and the DLS scores were level.
Singh took another risky single, but a poor throw over the bowler’s head saved him, but Patel then dragged on attempting an expansive drive to give Sylvester Okpe his first wicket. Patel had made 34 as the scoreboard now showed 54 for 2.
Pushkar Sharma, another left-hander was the Kenya number 5 and with only 3 from the over, the score was 56 for 2 from 11 overs.
Isaac Okpe returned for a second spell and had a big appeal for LBW against Sharma. It looked very, very close, but the umpire gave a run so there must have been an inside edge. 6 came off the over so it was now 62 for 2 off 12 overs.
Sylvester Okpe decided to go around the wicket to right-hander Singh, whose attempted sweep missed the bat, the off-stump, and the keeper’s gloves and ran away for four byes ! Another sweep to the fourth ball of the over was successful and beat the diving deep square leg for four. 6 runs had come off the bat in the over plus the 4 byes to now make it 72 for 2 off 13 overs. Okpe finished with 1 for 19 off his 4 overs.
Aho was brought back for his third over and a harsh wide was given as Singh missed a cut. The batsman then pulled a long hop to mid-wicket where Sylvester Okpe held onto the bar of soap at third attempt. Singh was out for 13 with the score 73-3.
Nelson Odhiambo came in at number 6, and got off the mark first ball. However, only 3 runs came off the over taking the score to 75 for 3, and 47 were now needed off just 6 overs.
Leg spinner Kareem was brought on and was clubbed down the ground by Sharma, but good fielding from Aho saved 3 runs. Odhiambo then chipped to where midwicket wasn’t for a single but a well floated googly above the eyeline tempted Sharma, who sliced high in the air for Adedeji to hold his nerve to take the catch. It was now 77 for 4.
Stand-in captain Oluoch was the next batsmen and from his first ball he played a back foot drive to the point boundary for 2 but it was another good over for Nigeria, with just 4 from it as the required run rate went to above 8 an over. 79 for 4 off 15 overs and 43 needed from 5 overs.
Useni was the next bowler with his left arm medium, resulting in a scampered leg bye from the first ball then another sharp single which would have been out had the throw hit. Odhaimbo then pulled a short ball from outside off stump for 6 over mid-wicket. However, the next ball was also short and outside off-stump but Odhiambo’s big swing sliced high to cover where Kareem took a comfortable catch. Odhiambo had to go for 8 with the score 87 for 5.
The injured Karim returned to crease, and with no runners allowed these days it was uncertain how many quick singles he would be able to run. He steered a single to third man keep the strike meaning 34 were need from 4 overs, or 24 balls.
It was now Kareem to Karim and a fumble in the deep allowed 2 runs. Oluoch missed with a huge swing to the last ball but somehow it bounced over middle stump. Still, only 4 runs had come from the over and with 29 needed from 3 overs Nigeria were looking the favourites.
Aho returned for his final over, and although a poor throw from cover gave an overthrow, Karim drove at a full wide ball but could only edge it, and keeper Runsewe dived to his left to take a two-hand catch. Karim had made 16 but more importantly it was now 95 for 6.
Ngoche was the new batsman, but with only 5 from Aho’s final over it was 98 for 6, with 24 needed off 12 balls. Aho finished with 2 for 16.
The Nigerian skipped decided to take off his leg spinner Kareem, who had taken 1 for 9 from 2 overs, and brought back opening bowler Udekwe. Ngoche drove straight for two then smashed a short ball over square leg for a maximum. With the rain falling again, Ngoche then lifted a fuller delivery just over the fielder at long-off who was a few yards inside the boundary. Had he been on the line it probably would have been a catch. It got worse for Nigeria as Ngoche drove straight again and Aho was unable to prevent the boundary. Ngoche then took a single off the last ball to keep the strike, having taken 19 off the over.
Only 5 runs were now needed from 6 balls but DLS still had Nigeria ahead. The umpires had a brief discussion over the rain but allowed play to continue.
Isaac Okpe was back to bowl the final over and induced a play and miss from Ngoche. A slower ball was driven for one to put Oluoch on strike. He managed another single to long off to give Ngoche the strike, but he could only take a single for Oluoch to face again. It was now 2 runs needed from 2 balls, but Oluoch settled any Kenyan nerves by smashing the penultimate ball to long-on for 4 to win the game for his side.
After looking in big trouble Kenya pulled off a 4 wicket win with a ball to spare. Ngoche hit 23 runs from 11 balls to turn the game around and to spare Kenya’s blushes. A big upset was avoided.
Nigeria will be bitterly disappointed at letting a big scalp slip through their fingers and may rue the bowling change for the 19th over of the Kenyan innings, when Kareem had looked to be bowling well
Link To Scorecard : https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-africa-region-qualifier-2023-24-1407043/kenya-vs-nigeria-4th-match-1407092/full-scorecard
Link To Highlights : https://app.icc.tv/video/550529
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