NAIROBI, Kenya, February 11- Another dark cloud has descended on Kenya cricket this time on the crease after Kenya failed to qualify for the World Twenty20 following a seven wicket loss to Netherlands on Thursday.
The result is bound to raise questions about Kenya’s preparedness for premier international tournaments and the team in question which had been in camp for a month and went unbeaten in the recent Tri Series tournament that involved Scotland and Uganda.
It’s the second time in a row that Kenya has failed to qualify for the tournament after missing out on the trip to England last year.
After losing the toss and put to bat, Eldine Baptiste’s side found it tough racking up the numbers as they were restricted to 130 runs.
Lameck Onyango took 2-17 as the Dutch cruised to 133 with just 5 balls remaining in a nerve racking finish with Eric Szwarczynski top scoring with 45 before being sent to the pavilion by Onyango.
Jimmy Kamande’s was the only Kenyan player to respond to the Dutch’s bowling with a score 42 of 33 deliveries.
Mudassar Bukhari did not take long to start the destruction as he dismissed opener Steve Tikolo (0) and Alex Obanda (5) in the first and second overs respectively over leaving Kenya reeling at 11-2.
Man of the match Pieter Seelar was another Dutchman who enjoyed himself with the ball with a four wicket haul of Kenyan captain Maurice Ouma, Rakep Patel, Tony Suji and Collins Obuya who he caught leg before.
Hopes of piling on more runs ended with Kamande’s dismissal in the 19th over.
