Kenya defeated Bahrain 255 to 250 on Sunday at the final fixture of the Bahrain in Kenya tour. The hosts secured the win in a match that remained close until the end. It was a crucial result for the home side.
To be fair, the two teams have been trading blows lately. Kenya had won the previous meeting 149 to 148 on the first of August. Bahrain had responded with a 159 to 144 victory two days before that. The pattern suggests a tactical stalemate.
And here's the thing about the final score. A five-point margin is often decided by a single possession. The hosts managed to hold their nerve in the closing moments.
By then, both squads were adapting to the heat. Kenya had shown strong form with wins against Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire. They had also beaten Botswana comfortably in May. Bahrain had navigated a difficult run of fixtures in Asia. They had suffered defeats against Oman and Hong Kong recently.
The victory breaks a cycle of alternating results. It gives Kenya the upper hand in this series. The tour continues with the next match.