T20 WCQ: Peerless Obuya strikes 81 to lead unbeaten Kenya past Tanzania

At this moment for the Kenya men’s cricket team, a win is a win.

That was once again the theme as Lameck Onyango’s men, albeit in a show of not-so-good fielding, strolled past neighbors Tanzania to secure a 50 runs victory in their third match of the ongoing 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup - Africa Qualifiers in Windhoek, Namibia.

Perhaps a rare smile from bowler Nelson Odhiambo after he bowled out the last of Tanzania’s batters - Sanjay Kumar - for his first wicket of the day was fitting, as Kenya, after three rounds, top the seven-nation tournament standings with a perfect record and everything looking up for them.

Tanzania on this occasion at the United and Wanderers Cricket Ground won the toss and elected to bowl, setting the stage for veteran batter Collins Obuya - now playing another T20 International game 16 years and 23 days since his debut - to a 54-ball 81; just what Kenya needed to putting up 182 runs for the loss of three wickets on the board.

“Just taking every game by itself and seeing how it goes with my body,” man of the match Obuya said after the game. “I think we have got enough talent in this team. Just depends with how we handle ourselves.”

Rushab Patel with 24 runs off 18 balls, was the first man to exit the crease when Kumar hit the stumps behind him after 4.5 overs.

But on a day where Kenya looked to play complimentary cricket - unlike Thursday when Kenya needed a late rally from Shem Ngoche to see off Nigeria - all of Irfan Karim, Ngoche and Pushkar Sharma (not out) racked double digit runs scoring 27, 10 and 32 respectively.

T20 WCQ: Shem Ngoche strikes late to hand Kenya marginal win over Nigeria

The total was always to be a hard go for the Tanzanians, and they get their own dose of good Kenyan bowling from a man making his 11th international cap - Gerard Muthui - as he troubled the batting lineup with four wickets, sending off skipper Abhik Patwa, Akhil Anil, Salim Jumbe and Mohamed Kitunda.

“It just didn’t click and we didn’t do a good job giving them 50 extra runs in there,” Patwa said post-game.

Vraj Patel got two wickets, with Odhiambo and stand-in Lucas Ndandason picking one of his own.

A look up to the table might not be a bad thing, but tougher tests await.