Irish hunt final place in Kenya

IRELAND will have one eye on the Nairobi skies over the next four days as they seek to beat Kenya and secure a place in the InterContinental Cup final for a third successive time.

Showers are forecast and, after failing to secure maximum points against Namibia despite pulling off a thrilling eight-run win in Windhoek last week, Ireland must beat Kenya both on first innings and outright to progress.

There is no margin for error, and when the coin is flipped tomorrow morning William Porterfield may choose to let his bowlers loose on a Kenya batting line-up that used to be brilliant but is now recognised to be past its best and flaky at times.

Although Kenya only need a draw to reach the final, they may struggle to survive four days against the best bowling attack in ICC associate cricket without the help of the weather.

The one change the Ireland selectors could consider is playing Gary Wilson, the deputy wicketkeeper, as a batsman to give him some match practice as the threat of an ICC ban hangs over Niall O’Brien after a breach of discipline on the first day in Windhoek.

If O’Brien has to stand down, it would be harsh to throw Wilson into the final without any four-day experience in African conditions, so either Alex Cusack or Kevin O’Brien may have to make way.

IRELAND (from): William Porterfield (cpt) (Gloucestershire), Gary Wilson (Surrey), Niall O’Brien (wkt) (Northants), Andre Botha (North County), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), Kevin O’Brien (Railway Union), Andrew White (Instonians), Regan West (CSN), Trent Johnston (Railway Union), Kyle McCallan (Waringstown), Peter Connell (North Down), Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire).