Group B of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier is turning out to be a pool of attrition with all eyes turning to Friday's match between Namibia and Kenya.

Papua New Guinea, entering the qualifying tournament seeded third in Group B, lead the way with two consecutive victories, with tournament favorites the Netherlands and Kenya currently in third and fourth place.

Friday's game three clash at the Bay Oval sees a monumental African match-up between Namibia and Kenya take centre stage.

Namibia defied their CWCQ14 ranking on Wednesday, giving the Netherlands a cricketing lesson on the Bay Oval Two pitch.

The Dutch side surprised their fans when they won the toss and put their African opponents in to bat. With their innings delicately poised at four down for 100, Gerrie Snyman took charge blasting a run a ball 74.

Christi Viljoen continued his side's momentum on his way to an unbeaten 46, as Namibia set the opposition a solid challenge when they reached 253/6.

After losing their openers cheaply, the Dutch were always playing catch-up and at 89/6, Namibia had taken control. They went on to dismiss their opponents for 162, which gave Namibia a 91 run victory.

For the winners, Christi Viljoen backed up his heroics with the bat taking four wickets for 33 runs, with Louis Klazinga (2/36) and Bernard Scholtz (2/31) taking two wickets apiece.

Kenya will be desperate for victory, when they walk out to play their first match at the Bay Oval after being beaten by tournament surprise package Papua New Guinea in their opening CWCQ match in New Plymouth.

Kenya posted a solid target when they reached 249/9 before being out gunned by PNG. Collins Obuya was in impressive form posting the games highest score of 106.

The key to a Kenyan victory could be player/coach Steve Tikolo, who is a member of a select band of players to have featured in five editions of the ICC Cricket World Cup – having played in the 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 editions.

His whole approach to the game has a Caribbean flavour to it. A middle-order batsman who relies on his eye as much as technique and who can attack or defend as the situation demands, he possesses a wide range of strokes, but when he is in full flow he can be a punishing player at any level.

In a must win game for both sides - victory for Kenya on Friday would get them back in the frame for the three available Group B Super Sixes spots, while a Namibian win will give them a real shot of playing in the vital post section encounters.

ICC CWCQ14 Matches at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui

17 January – Namibia v Kenya, Bay Oval (10.30am start)