Afghanistan will play Kenya in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Nairobi Gymkhana ground. Kenya had won the first ODI rather easily to take a 1-0 lead and it will be interesting to see how Afghanistan responds to being behind - probably for the first time in the last one year or so.

Going into the series, there was no doubt that Afghanistan was the stronger of the two sides. Even at the end of the first innings in the first game between Afghanistan and Kenya, Afghanistan looked like they would be able to get the better of the opposition given that they needed to score only 181 in the 50 overs and they have good batsmen.

Unfortunately for the side, for a change, none of the batsmen really clicked too much and apart from Noor Ali Zadran, no batsman got to 20. There were only two who even got to double figures and N Odhiambo, who had just been brought into the side scalped three wickets and won the Kenyans the game. Thomas Odoyo and Ngoche picked up a couple of wickets each.

As compared to that, the Kenyan batsmen had all got starts in their innings. All the top four and five of the top seven got good starts but only one batsman got to a half century. There were three batsmen who got out in their 20s, which meant that the side clearly has the potential but there are question marks over the temperament and the patience.

Unfortunately for the Kenyan cricket, there is too much dependence on Steve Tikolo to deliver the goods - each time he scores, the side has done well. Even in the first game, he was the one batsman who scored the half century and ensured that the side got to where they got to in the end.

Interestingly, Jimmy Kamande became the captain of the Kenyan side and scored a well-compiled 31, before picking up a wicket in his three-over spell to lead them to a win.

In the second game of the ODI series, Afghanistan will need to ensure that the side does not collapse in going after the innocuous looking bowling of Kenya. After all, at home, the Kenyan bowling does look a tad more comfortable and hence will have an advantage.

Afghanistan will still be favourites going into the game, but the Kenyans will come hard at them to claim a series win.

Tag :- Afghanistan   Jimmy Kamande   Kenya   Noor Ali Zadran   Steve Tikolo