NAIROBI, October 9 – The Ireland national cricket team jetted into the country on Thursday morning.
The visitors will play hosts Kenya in a seventh round International Cricket Council (ICC) Intercontinental Cup four day match from Saturday.
The team touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly before dawn on Thursday from Johannesburg. They then held a light training session at Ruaraka.
Namibia currently leads the Intercontinental Cup standings with 108 points after winning six matches and losing one. Kenyan is second with 96 points arising from four victories and one loss.
After the match in Nairobi, the better team on the standings between Kenya and Ireland will meet Namibia in the finals in South Africa from around the 6th. November, 08.
Revenge will be in the minds of the Irish when they take to the field at Nairobi Gymkhana after suffering a two wicket loss, the last time they played in Kenya in an ICC World Cricket League match.
The national team which resumed training on Tuesday this week at the Aga Khan Sports Club will be looking for better performances after their disastrous outing against Pakistan Academy.
Kenya lost all its matches in both the four day matches and One Day Internationals to the visitors which drew heavy criticism from the media and fans and led to Cricket Kenya forming a three man committee to investigate the poor performances.
They looked to have sealed the win having reduced Kenya to 232-9 but a heroic 61 off 36 balls by Thomas Odoyo snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean national cricket team is expected in the country on Wednesday next week ahead of a Tri Nations Series involving Ireland Zimbabwe and the hosts.
The three nation tourney will start on October 17 with Ireland taking on Zimbabwe.
Kenya will then take on the Irish boys the following day before playing Zimbabwe on October 19.
Zimbabwe will play Ireland in their second series match on October 21, before Kenya tackle Ireland and Zimbabwe on October 22 and 23 respectively.
The Tri Series final will then be held on October 25.
After the Tri Series, the team will leave for South Africa where it will face the Proteas in two One Day International matches.
October Programme:
11th-14th ICC Intercontinental Cup vs. Ireland (Nairobi Gymkhana)
17th Tri Series 1st. Match Zimbabwe vs. Ireland (Nairobi Gymkhana)
18th Tri Series 2nd Match Kenya vs. Ireland (Nairobi Gymkhana)
19th Tri Series 3rd. Match Kenya vs. Zimbabwe (Nairobi Gymkhana)
20th Rest Day 1
21st Tri Series 4th match Zimbabwe vs. Ireland (Nairobi Gymkhana)
22nd Tri Series 5th match Kenya vs. Ireland (Nairobi Gymkhana)
23rd Tri Series 3rd match Kenya vs. Zimbabwe (Nairobi Gymkhana)
24th Rest Day 2
25th Final
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