Ireland close in final place

CRICKET REPORT: IRELAND have put themselves in a great position to extend their African adventure to include an Intercontinental Cup final after taking control of their clash with Kenya in Nairobi over the weekend.

After a poor display against Namibia, Ireland's top-order batsmen stepped back up to the plate and proceeded to smash it all around the Gymkhana ground before declaring on 578 for four, an Irish record.

The bowlers then got to work, taking three wickets by the close, as Kenya finished on 62 for three, still over 500 runs adrift and with two days of play left.

Victory for Ireland will give them a chance of a third straight title in a final clash with Namibia in Port Elizabeth at the end of the month.

Niall O'Brien proved the hero of the first day, hitting his fifth international century after Kenya captain Steve Tikolo had won the toss and put Ireland in on a flat pitch.

Skipper William Porterfield went for one with the score on 19, but that was to prove the only real success for the home side as they were to take just three more wickets in the next 155 overs as Ireland's batsmen made hay.

O'Brien eventually went for 135, his second straight century against the African side in the competition as he passed 3,000 runs in first-class cricket.

After closing day one on 283 for three, Ireland blazed away yesterday as Andre Botha brought up his fourth century in eight innings in this Intercontinental Cup campaign.

He was to be overshadowed by Kevin O'Brien, younger brother of Niall, who bludgeoned his way to a maiden first-class century, the only time three Ireland batsmen have reached three figures in an innings.

Having pushed the score on to 400 for the loss of Botha (109) by lunch, O'Brien and Andrew White went for the jugular, adding 178 runs in 30 overs before the declaration was made; their unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 214 also rewriting the Irish record books.

O'Brien finished unbeaten on 171 off 209 deliveries, hammering a record 12 sixes into the bargain, while White was eight runs short of his century with the innings closed.

Boyd Rankin and Peter Connell then removed the Kenyan openers, before off-spinner Kyle McCallan struck late in the day, trapping Rakep Patel leg-before.

Tikolo survived on 24 not out and could yet prove key in Kenya's bid to earn the draw they require to make the final.

The only dark cloud for Ireland is a weather forecast that promises showers over the final two days, but it did little to dampen the mood of a stunning performance over the weekend.