Kenya’s tail wagged feebly, but it served only to delay Afghanistan’s eight-wicket victory on the third day of their Intercontinental Cup match in Dubai.
The day had begun brightly for Kenya with Hiren Varaiya and Shem Ngoche hitting a four each in the second over. Their stand fetched 30 runs for the ninth wicket before 19-year old seamer Sayed Shirzad bounced Ngoche out to claim his third wicket. No. 11 Elijah Otieno resisted as long as he could while Varaiya collected three of his six fours to push himself to 36 and Kenya to 140.
The target of 69 was always going to be straightforward with opener Javed Ahmadi taking Afghanistan eight runs short of victory before nicking to the keeper. The Odhiambo brothers, Nelson and Nehemiah, picked up a wicket each. Rahmat Shah, whose century proved the difference between the two sides in a match that featured 28 wickets falling in two days, was awarded the Man of the Match.
The next match for Afghanistan in the Intercontinental Cup is the final against Ireland in December.
