Ireland won the first game of the RSA Challenge against Kenya by three wickets but there is plenty for Phil Simmons’ squad to work on going into the back-to-back games back here at Clontarf on Saturday and Sunday. The positives were the batting of returning captain William Porterfield, who masterminded the winning reply, and the last 20 overs by the bowlers who took eight wickets for just 89 runs to restrict the Kenyans from the perfect launching pad of 125 for one.

A target of 215 should have been a stroll for the batting line-up which dominated the World Cup Qualifying tournament in South Africa just three months ago but although eight Ireland batsmen reached double figures only Porterfield got past 30. The batting powerplay, eventually taken in the 43rd over with just 36 runs wanted, was especially culpable. Only 24 runs were scored with Andrew White managing only three scoring shots in 13 balls before he eventually top edged to long leg. It needed the calm, experienced heads of Trent Johnston and Kyle McCallan to see the job through with seven balls to spare.

At the start of the day, the bowlers gifted Kenya 10 runs from wides - it was 13 by the end of the innings - and it looked as if the decision to leave out Peter Connell would be a costly mistake. The North Down bowler had taken five Worcestershire wickets in Ireland’s last 50 overs match when the county side were dismissed for 5 8. Kenya reached that total without loss in the 15th over with only Boyd Rankin, who started with two maidens troubling the openers. Johnston returned with a superb second spell and was so unlucky not to pick up a wicket, but, once again, Ireland were thankful for McCallan’s off spin. His country’s most capped player not only made the breakthrough in the 21st over - the longest Ireland have had to wait for the opening wicket since the game against New Zealand last July, 45 matches ago - but he also took the first four wickets at a cost of just 30 runs, his best figures in an ODI.

John Mooney was played as the extra batsmen, in preference to Paul Stirling who scored a century against the Kenyans last Friday, but with 27 from 25 balls, including four fours and a six, he again showed his ability to score runs on demand, this time from No 7. Alex Cusack scored 30 from what appears to be his new No 3 role in both forms of the game but while Gary Wilson (13), Andre Botha (10), Kevin O'Brien (16) and White (19) all flattered to deceive, it was Porterfield, who stayed for 110 balls to score 81, with his 11 fours coming all round the wicket with increasing authority.

After hitting successive boundaries off Thomas Odoyo, he was caught at backward point with Ireland still 63 runs short of victory but the hard work had been done.

Ian Callender (Belfast Telegraph / Irish Daily Mail)