Ireland gamble reaps dividend

Kenya 401 for 4 dec and 104 for 3 (M Suji 52) lead Ireland 313 for 4 dec (O'Brien 106*, Botha 78, Morgan 60) by 192 runs
Scorecard

Eoin Morgan cuts loose on his way to 60 © GICC

A brave piece of captaincy gave Ireland a chance of winning the Intercontinental Cup final against Kenya, a possibility that had seemed to have all but gone earlier in the day.

By declaring 88 runs in arrears, Ireland gambled on taking Kenyan wickets and in so doing used the complex bonus points system to their advantage. On a perfect batting surface, a result is unlikely, but after dominating the first day, it is the Kenyans who will sleep uneasily tonight. Should they lose early wickets tomorrow, then Ireland will in all probability move into the box seat.

Kenya were 8.5-2.5 up on bonus points overnight, and they moved into an even better position as Ireland lost two key wickets before lunch. Jeremy Bray, who scored 268 runs across two innings in the semi-final, was caught off Lameck Onyango after a steady 46. Eoin Morgan, who scored 151 in the semi-final, was out not long before the break after making 60.

But in the afternoon, with Kenya looking to stifle runs as much as take wickets, Kent's 23-year-old wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien - another centurion in the semi-final - and Andre Botha batted with skill and maturity. The pair added 165 runs in under two hours, and when Botha fell for 78, it triggered a declaration, a bid to avoid Kenya picking up cheap points for wickets. O'Brien finished unbeaten on 106.

Kenya's main priority was not to lose wickets, but in trying to do this they became rather bogged down, and a shuffle of the batting order did not help. Martin Suji made a patient 52, but Ireland hit the jackpot in the final overs when his dismissal was followed next ball by that of his brother. One point in two balls could be fairly crucial by tomorrow night.

Bonus points may be earned in both the first and second innings.

Batting Points
First Innings - 0.5 points for every 25 runs scored throughout the 90 overs
Second Innings - 0.5 points for every 25 runs scored throughout the innings to a maximum of 4 Points

Bowling Points
A maximum of 5 bowling points per innings to be awarded, 0.5 points at the fall of each wicket