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John Mooney in action (file photo). ©INPHO/James Crombie
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Drama in Mombasa: Ireland hang on to beat Kenya by 2 runs

Ireland completed a 3-0 series whitewash in their final Twenty20 test against Kenya this afternoon.

Ireland (107/9) beat Kenya (105/7) by two runs

GEORGE DOCKRELL AND John Mooney rescued Ireland with some late heroics as the visitors clung on for a two-run win in their third and final Twenty20 test against Kenya.

With two overs remaining, Kenya needed 11 runs to pass the modest target of 108 and deny Ireland a 3-0 series whitewash.

But Dockrell and Mooney stood strong in the battle of wills and gave up just four runs each to leave Kenya agonisingly short of their consolation prize.

Gary Wilson (32) and Ed Joyce (38) were the highest scorers on a difficult day for the Irish batsmen, who struggled to deal with the slow left-arm deliveries of Shem Ngoche.

Ngoche took home the Man of the Match gong with four wickets for 14 runs, including early scalps of William Porterfield and Kevin O’Brien which left Ireland floundering on 14/3 inside three overs.

After dominating with the ball, Ngoche had a chance to win it with the bat. He was thrust into the action with Kenya needing just four runs from their final two balls and, although he ground out a double with his first, couldn’t get close enough to Mooney’s final delivery to pull off a dramatic win.

Ireland now move on to South Africa for a 10-day training camp ahead of the World Twenty20 qualifiers in Dubai next month.

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