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For the Kenyan team, the 2nd round of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup (CWC) Challenge League B was somewhat a nightmare as 3 painful losses summed it all up.

Hong Kong condemned the Kenyans to their third loss of the tournament – a five-wicket loss to the Asians at the University Oval in Kyambogo, Uganda. The loss came after another difficult time against Uganda where Kenya won the toss and chose to bat first, putting up 220 runs before being bowled out in 47 overs.

Opening Batsman and man of the match Simon Ssesazi hit 87 runs, off of 112 balls not out, as the Cricket Cranes lost only 3 wickets en route to the win.

Captain Shem Ngoche

“We are really sorry to our fans and those that travelled from Kenya to watch this East African Derby,” said the 33-year-old Kenyan captain Shem Ngoche after Uganda’s batsmen; Simon Ssesazi (87 runs from 112 balls) and Dinesh Nakrani (55 runs from 47 balls) constructed an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 90 runs from 85 balls to win the game for the Cricket Cranes with 29 balls to spare.

“We didn’t bat very well at the back-end of our innings. With the way we started, we should have scored at least 260 runs but lost too many wickets for nothing and we could only set 220 runs. 260 would have given our bowlers a worthy total to bowl at,” added the skipper.

“I am proud of how the boys came out there in the afternoon and tried to defend our small total,” said Ngoche who acknowledged Hong Kong’s top performance after stunning them. “It is unfortunate that we were not able to break the sixth-wicket stand. But the boys really tried hard. Congratulations to Hong Kong for winning a very good game of cricket.”

Kenya’s only win in the 2nd round came after outclassing Bermuda. Bermuda never got going in their first outing of the tournament, as the quick opening pair of Elijah Otieno and Emmanuel Bundi claimed nine wickets between them, skittling their opponents for just 107.

Otieno (5/21) and Bundi (4/26) were joined by Nelson Odhiambo (1/19), with captain Kamau Leverock’s 29 the only Bermuda respite.

Rushab Patel’s 49 ruined any chance of a Bermuda comeback in a six-wicket Kenyan win.

The Kenyan squad led by coach David Obuya now comes back home knowing that their pride has been dented further and must shed some skin before the third round of games at International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket World Cup (CWC) Challenge League B from July 28 to August 15 in the British Channel Island nation – Jersey.