Hosts Kenya put on an all-round performance to beat Nigeria by 30 runs as the Kenya-Nigeria Bilateral series bowled off at the Nairobi Sikh Union ground on Friday afternoon with the first T20 match.
After winning the toss, Kenya posted 159 for 6 a target that proved to be daunting for the West African side who ended on 130 for the loss of nine wickets
Sachin Bhudia was the star with the bat for Kenya with 50 that came off the last ball of Kenya’s inning before the bowlers stepped up to restrict the visitors.
Kenya made little change from the team that played in their last match of the just concluded Kenya Quad T20 Cup with skipper Rakep Patel sitting out once again.
Openers Neil Mugabe and Rushab Patel seemed to have a good start but that was short lived when Rushab was brilliantly caught at mid-off 14 in the third over. Kenya lost Mugabe (28) and Nelson Odhiambo (20) to stand at 73 for 3 after 9 overs.
Bhudia and Shem Ngoche (13) got the scores to 96 after 11 and at this time it looked like Kenya would not put on a fighting score until Jasraj Kundi (21) stepped in with a sixth wicket stand of 57 runs in 7.2 overs.
Skipper Sylveter Okpe who picked two of the three top wickets was the highlight of Nigeria bowling with 3 for 22.
Prosper Usemi added 2 for 31.
In reply, Nigeria struggled to build partnerships as Kenyan bowlers led by the spinners broke into their batting lineup at regular intervals. Nigeria were on 46 for 4 after seven overs before Prosper Useni (31) held up the inning to lead Nigeria past the 100 mark.
Ngoche, Gerald Mwendwa and Peter Koech were the pick of Kenyan bowlers with two wickets each.
