For Kenyan fans, the team's tour to Europe is steadily going from bad to worse despite the best efforts from Kenya's bowlers. Having lost their only match to the Netherlands by 7 wickets, albeit in a match shortened to 24 overs a side, it looked for 50 overs against Ireland on Sunday that Kenya were on track to turn their tour around as a fine bowling performance restricted Ireland to 148/9.

Sadly all that was needed to change that perception was for them to pad up to chase what should have been an easily attainable target. It was not to be, indeed never looked like it would be after the loss of Kennedy Obuya triggered an all too familiar collapse. Kenya fell from 18 for no loss to 51/5 with both Tikolo and Odoyo failing to trouble the scorers.

Maurice Ouma and Jimmy Kamande rallied briefly to take the score to 86 before Ouma was given out caught and bowled by Kyle McCallan. Clearly disgruntled with the decision, Ouma hit his bat against his pad before kicking it a few metres as he walked to the pavilion. Ouma had made 25 and received a reprimand for breaching the ICC code of conduct after being found guilty of showing dissent by Mike Procter of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees in a hearing that took place after the conclusion of the match.

Mr Procter reached his conclusion after a hearing attended by the player, the two on-field umpires, third umpire Alan Neill, Kenya manager Davinder Singh and captain Steve Tikolo. Ouma pleaded guilty to the charge and escaped suitably chastened but without a fine.

Kamande stuck around to make 33 - the highest score for the team for the match, but it was to be in a losing cause as the tail folded without showing any resistance to the disciplined Irish attack. To be fair though, they should not have had to bat at all. They had done their bit in the first innings and it should have been up to the team's batsmen to chase down a very modest total. Andy Kirsten will need to find some grit fast if his charges are going to salvage anything from this tour at all. Perhaps going back to the line up that demolished the Netherlands in the Intercontinental Cup would be a good start.