CRICKET – Bahrain’s senior men’s cricket national team narrowly lost to hosts Kenya by one wicket yesterday in the second match of their T20I series at Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi.
The Bahrainis headed into the contest on a high, having taken their first meeting held the day prior by 15 runs.
Looking to level the series, Kenya won the toss yesterday and elected to bowl first.
Bahrain posted a total of 148 for five in their 20 overs, leaving the home team with a chase of 149 runs to level the series.
Bahrain’s innings was once again anchored by the in-form Fiaz Ahmed, who had a masterful 65 runs off just 48 balls with an innings decorated with seven fours and two towering sixes.
Ahmed stitched crucial partnerships with others in the middle order but nothing explosive.
Once again, a late cameo from Imran Anwar, who smashed 13 with one six and one four off the seven deliveries he faced before being caught, propelled Bahrain to their total.
For Kenya, Peter Langat and Shem Ngoche both picked up double wickets and were equally economical drying up the runs, but the Kenyan bowlers were once again guilty of conceding six wides.
In reply, Kenya’s chase got off to a decent start, and all openers and middle order batters got into double figures. However, they kept on losing wickets.
All of Bahrain’s bowlers chipped in with wickets when it mattered the most, taking the game deep until the last delivery.
With the only wicket standing, Kenya kept their cool and won the match by scoring the single off the last delivery by Asif Shaikh.
With the completion of their two T20 internationals, Bahrain and Kenya will now play two 50-over fixtures as part of the ICC CWC Challenge League B campaign.
They will be tomorrow and Wednesday at the same venue.
Led by captain Asif Ali, Bahrain will look to build on their momentum, showcase their progress on the international stage, and compete with pride as they continue their journey towards success in world cricket.
Joining Ali, Ahmed, Anwar and Shaikh in Nairobi were vice-captain Prashant Kurup, Ahmer Bin Nasir, Sohail Ahmed, Ali Dawood, Junaid Niazi, Muhammad Safdar, Shujat Khan, Amaish Rana, Abdul Majid and Muhammad Rizwan.
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