Kenya hold out for draw against Sri Lanka A

Kenya held out for a draw against Sri Lanka A at Mombassa Sports Club today. Sri Lanka scored quick runs in the morning and eventually declared on 167 for four after 31 entertaining overs. However, Kenya easily batted out the remaining 46 overs and finished the day on 135 for three.

The Kenyan opening bowlers, Martin Suji and Thomas Odoyo, both bowled hostile opening spells in the morning and Thomas Odoyo was rewarded with three top order wickets.

Prassana Jawardene, who opened the innings in place of Chaminda Mendis who has fractured his foot, pulled straight to square leg without scoring. Michael Van Dort was trapped LBW in similar fashion to the first innings and Ruwin Peiris was also trapped LBW for 14.

Chamara Silva and Upeka Fernando rescued the innings for the tourists. Fernando was eventually dismissed for 51, but Chamara Silva went on to score a fluent 87 from just 72 balls. The pair played shots all around the wicket and the Kenyan's were unable to contain them despite at one stage having seven men on the boundary and bowling their overs at a derisory rate.

Eventually, Dharmasena declared, perhaps too late for a meaningful conclusion to the game. The Kenyans were required to score 324 for victory or, more realistically, bat for 46 overs to secure a draw.

Despite hostile opening spells from Ruchira Perera and Ravindra Puspakumara, who claimed the wicket of Otieno for the second time in the match, Kenya batted better in the second innings and never looked like losing.

Ravindu Shah batted fluently for his 32 from 54 balls but Steve Tikolo dominated the innings Kenya with 71 from 122 deliveries. He hit nine boundaries in all and once again looked a class act.