U19CWC Report Card: Kenya
Results summary:
Group stage
Lost to South Africa by 169 runs
Lost to New Zealand by 243 runs
Lost to Windies by 222 runs
Plate quarter-final
Lost to Sri Lanka by 311 runs
13th place play-off semi-final
Lost to Namibia by 8 wickets
15th place play-off
Beat Papua New Guinea by 14 runs
Positives to take home?
Being drawn in Group A, Kenya faced some very strong opponents in the form of South Africa, hosts New Zealand and the Windies. Having endured a galling start to the competition in which they suffered four heavy defeats, Kenya did well to rally and finish on a high.
Kenya avoided the wooden spoon by narrowly beating Papua New Guinea, holding their nerve to bowl PNG out. Gerard Mwendwa was the star of their final game, taking 4/37 from his 9.3 overs, including the vital wicket of Nou Rarua, who was threatening to win the game for the opposition with 47 runs.
Elsewhere, Jayant Mepani scored some handy lower-order runs in the final two games, following his 15 not out against Namibia with an unbeaten 44 versus PNG.
Areas for improvement?
Kenya lost their first four games by big margins largely because South Africa, New Zealand and West Indies all benefitted from big centuries by one of their players. Raynard van Tonder scored 143 for South Africa, Jakob Bhula made 180 and Rachin Ravindra scored 117 for the Black Caps, the Windies' Alick Athanaze smashed 116 from 93 balls, while Sri Lanka's Hasitha Boyagoda struck 191 – the highest score in U19 ODIs. As a direct result, all three sides racked up gigantic totals batting first, leaving Kenya to face uphill battles.
If wickets are not forthcoming, Kenya could do with developing plans to stifle the opposition's run-scoring.
Rising star?
Kenya's stand-out performer was opening batsman Aman Gandhi, who scored 191 runs in six innings across the competition at an average of 31.83. Gandhi posted two half-centuries, scoring 63 against the strong bowling attack of hosts New Zealand as well as 52 versus Namibia.
The 17-year-old right-hander showed plenty of promise and range, scoring at a patient strike rate of 59 against New Zealand, while upping it to 92 in a quick-fire 37 against the Windies.
Overall grade?
D