NAIROBI, Aug 12: An incisive three-wicket spell from Mashrafe Mortaza and Mohammad Ashraful's quick-fire half-century overwhelmed Kenya in the first One-day International on Saturday.

After restricting Kenya to 168, Bangladesh had little trouble in cantering to a six-wicket victory to go up 1-0 in the three-match series.

Kenya, Steve Tikolo aside, were insipid in all departments. Their batting was inept and having set such a small target, their bowlers failed to prevent Bangladesh's batsmen from finding the fence with ease.

Ashraful, in particular, took advantage of the generous width on offer. His innings began when Bangladesh were at a precarious 58 for three and he swung the momentum their way with a flurry of boundaries.

He reached his fifty — off just 36 balls — with a slog-swept six off Hiren Varaiya, who conceded 33 off five overs.

Farhad Reza was hardly overshadowed at the other. He contributed 34 to the 73-run stand for the fifth wicket that sealed Bangladesh's victory.

Tikolo provided the only Kenyan resistance during a typically belligerent 47 but his effort was a flicker in what was a dreary batting performance.

The second match is on Sunday.

Scoreboard

KENYA:

K.O. Otieno lbw b Mashrafe 1

M.A. Ouma c Mashud b Mashrafe 0

J.K. Kamande c Mashud b Mashrafe 5

S.O. Tikolo b Abdur Razzak 47

H.S. Modi c Mashud b Saqibul 22

C.O. Obuya st Mashud b Saqibul 17

T. Mishra b Abdur Razzak 35

T.M. Odoyo c Farhad b Rafique 7

N. Odhiambo lbw b Abdur Razzak 9

P.J. Ongondo not out 9

H.A. Varaiya st Mashud b Rasel 2

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-3, NB-5) 14

TOTAL (all out, 49.1 overs) 168

BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 10-4-25-3 (2w); Syed Rasel 8.1-0-41-1 (3nb); Farhad Reza 1-0-14-0 (2nb); Abdur Razzak 10-0-31-3; Mohammad Rafique 10-2-19-1; Saqibul Hasan 10-1-32-2 (1w).

FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-4, 3-60, 4-62, 5-99, 6-102, 7-116, 8-130, 9-165.

BANGLADESH:

Rajin Saleh c Otieno b Odhiambo 19

Shahriar Nafees lbw b Odoyo 7

Aftab Ahmed c Kamande b Ongondo 14

Saqibul Hasan run out 20

Mohammad Ashraful not out 67

Farhad Reza not out 34

EXTRAS (W-6, NB-3) 9

TOTAL (for four wkts, 30.1 overs) 170

FALL OF WKTS: 1-10, 2-27, 3-58, 4-97.

DID NOT BAT: Khaled Mashud, Mohammad Rafique, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Syed Rasel.

BOWLING: Odoyo 6-1-23-1 (1nb, 1w); Ongondo 10-0-52-1 (2nb, 1w); Odhiambo 7.1-0-49-1 (4w); Varaiya 5-0-33-0; Tikolo 2-0-13-0.

RESULT: Bangladesh won by six wickets.

UMPIRES: S.R. Modi (Kenya) and K. Hariharan (India).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Mahanama (Sri Lanka).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Mashrafe Mortaza.

—Agencies