Varaiya spins Kenya into command

UAE 185 for 8 (Rashid 38, Amjad 37*, Varaiya 5-50) trail Kenya 326 (Odoyo 137 Alhashmi 3-47) by 141 runs
Scorecard

Thomas Odoyo cracked his second first-class hundred to boost Kenya's first innings to 326 on the second day of their Intercontinental Cup clash against UAE in Sharjah. But it was the slow-left-arm spin of Hiren Varaiya which swung the match in Kenya's favour. He picked up 5 for 50 as UAE struggled to 185 for 8 at stumps.

Odoyo, resuming on 79, farmed the strike excellently, with the last four Kenya batsmen only cobbling together nine runs between them. Lameck Onyango lasted 36 balls for his 3 and Peter Ongondo hung around for 18 balls, which allowed Odoyo to free his arms and bring up his first hundred since his unbeaten 103 against Canada last October. He was last man out, bowled by Khurram Khan, for 136.

UAE began confidently in reply. Rashid Khan and Arshad Ali put on 67 for the first wicket, but both fell in quick succession to Varaiya. Neither Peter Ongondo nor Kennedy Otieno, Kenya's fast bowlers, were successful in their opening spell, but Varaiya was given good support from Jimmy Kamande (2 for 31) and Steve Tikolo, who took 1 for 16 from 12 tight overs.

Amjad Ali played patiently for his unbeaten 37 but, with only two wickets remaining, UAE are facing the prospect of a big first-innings deficit.