Wednesday, 28 October 2026 — Kuwait posted a commanding total of 367/9 in their 50 overs at Ruaraka Sports Club Ground, Nairobi, built around Ravija Sandaruwan's 162 off 114 balls. Kenya, who chose to field after winning the toss, were 141/5 after 26.2 overs in reply and still needed 227 runs. The record for this 41st Match does not contain a final result, so this report covers the position as the data stands.
How the match unfolded
Kuwait batted first and scored at 7.34 an over. Ravija Sandaruwan hit 18 fours and 8 sixes in his 162 before being stumped by Irfan Karim off Shem Ngoche. Clinto Anto added 47 off 32 balls, also dismissed by Shem Ngoche, and Mohammed Aslam (34 off 55) and Ali Zaheer (32 off 31) contributed in the middle overs. Shem Ngoche finished with 3/49 from 10 overs, and Lucas Oluoch returned 2/46 from 10, though he conceded three wides. Dhiren Gondaria took 2/50 from 7 overs, while Vraj Patel (1/63), Sachin Gill (1/88) and Francis Mutua (0/65) were more expensive.
Kenya's reply lost wickets at regular intervals and was at 5 down after 26.2 overs at 5.35 an over. Subham Patel top-scored with 57 off 46 balls, including 10 fours, before being given lbw to Nimish Lathief. Sachin Bhudia (27 off 44) and Irfan Karim (18 off 20) were both dismissed for single-digit or low-twenties scores, and Sachin Gill was 27 not out off 25 balls. Mohammed Aslam was the pick of the Kuwait bowlers with 3/21 from 6 overs at an economy of 3.50, and Nimish Lathief took 2/31.
The turning point
The data does not identify a single turning point. Ball-by-ball records are missing for both innings, so only scorecard figures are available, and this report does not single out one moment as decisive.
What went right and wrong
Kuwait: Ravija Sandaruwan's innings was the defining feature of the match, and it gave the bowlers a total that few sides could chase comfortably. Anudeep Chenthamara was especially economical, conceding 10 runs from 3 overs at 3.33 an over without taking a wicket. The Kuwait attack's control was strong overall, with Mohammed Aslam and Nimish Lathief taking the wickets that kept Kenya under pressure.
Kenya: Shem Ngoche and Lucas Oluoch restricted Kuwait's scoring in the first innings, going at 4.90 and 4.60 an over respectively, but the wider bowling was more costly. Sachin Gill went for 11 an over (1/88 from 8 overs), against Kuwait's innings rate of 7.34. In the chase, Kenya lost wickets steadily, and the 227 still required at this point of the record was a very large deficit to overcome.
Standout performers
- Ravija Sandaruwan (Kuwait): 162 off 114 balls, with 18 fours and 8 sixes.
- Mohammed Aslam (Kuwait): 34 off 55 balls, and 3/21 from 6 overs at 3.50 an over with the ball in Kenya's innings.
- Shem Ngoche (Kenya): 3/49 from 10 overs at an economy of 4.90 in Kuwait's innings.
- Subham Patel (Kenya): 57 off 46 balls, with 10 fours, the highest score in Kenya's reply.
- Anudeep Chenthamara (Kuwait): 0/10 from 3 overs at 3.33 an over.