Kenya189 for 2 (Obuya 86*, Obanda 77) beat Afghanistan188 (Nabi 60, Odhiambo 2-18, Odoyo 2-29)
Scorecard
Kenya coasted to an easy win in the series-deciding third ODI in Nairobi. After bowling Afghanistan out for a below-par 188, they batted sensibly to win by 8 wickets with 8.3 overs remaining.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Afghanistan got off to an excellent start, with Karim Sadiq and Javed Ahmadi adding 53 runs for the first wicket. However, both openers fell in successive balls as Afghanistan’s progress was checked. A few balls later Noor-ul-Haq, who replaced Mohammad Shahzad in the line-up, fell for a duck. When Nowroz Mangal and Asghar Stanikzai departed shortly afterwards, a full-scale collapse was taking place.
Afghanistan could never regain control of their innings and had to thank a counter-attacking innings of 60 from 69 balls which contained three fours and three sixes from Mohammad Nabi to lift the score to a respectable 188. All but one of Kenya’s bowlers took a wicket as they bowled the visitors out in 43 overs.
Defending a reasonable low score, Afghanistan knew they needed early wickets; but they couldn’t get the breakthroughs as the absence of Hamid Hassan was really felt. A first wicket stand of 40 gave Kenya a solid start, before Alex Obanda and Collins Obuya added a match-winning 143 to put the result beyond doubt. Kenya sealed the series win by 8 wickets with Collins Obuya top-scoring with 86 off 96 balls.
It was a disappointing end to the tour for Afghanistan, and they are still without an ODI series win. Their next match will be at the Asian Games in late November.
