Boyd Rankin takes the plaudits after one of his wickets

Ireland beat Kenya by 33 runs in a low-scoring opener in the three-match Carnegie Cup one-day series in Belfast.

The home side did not look to have posted enough runs as they managed 148-9 from their 50 overs at Stormont, with Alex Cusack top-scoring on 35.

However, Boyd Rankin dismissed both Kenyan openers and a run-out had the African visitors struggling on 35-3.

Four wickets from the superb Andre Botha then helped the Irish skittle out the Kenyans for 115 in the 39th over.

Botha, whose haul included top-scorer Jimmy Kamande (33) and last wicket Peter Ongondo, finished with impressive figures of 4-19 from his 7.5 overs.

Spinner Kyle McCallan, who will earn his 200th cap in Ireland's game against the Kenyans at Stormont on Monday, claimed two wickets while paceman Peter Connell dismissed Martin Suji.

The Irish did not make the most convincing of starts with openers William Porterfield and Gary Wilson out for four and five to Ongondo.

Northamptonshire wicketkeeper-batsman Niall O'Brien's dismissal for 10 left the hosts on 54 for four - but 35 from Alex Cusack and 25 from Andrew White helped them avoid an embarrassingly low total.

The third match in the series takes place at the Belfast venue on Wednesday.

Rankin has returned to the Ireland squad for the Sunday and Monday clashes in Belfast but he will miss Wednesday's game because of Warwickshire duties.

The paceman had not played for Ireland since last year's World Cup because of county commitments and injury.

Eoin Morgan is missing the series because of his Middlesex commitments.

Skipper William Porterfield and Gary Wilson have been released by their counties for all of the games but Niall O'Brien is unavailable for the remaining two matches.

Ireland squad: William Porterfield (Gloucestershire, capt), Andre Botha (North County), Peter Connell (North Down), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), Gary Kidd (Waringstown), Kyle McCallan (Waringstown), Kevin O'Brien (Railway Union), Niall O'Brien (Northamptonshire) - Sunday only, Andrew Poynter (Clontarf), Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire) - Sunday and Monday, Paul Stirling (Cliftonville), Reinhardt Strydom (North County), Andrew White (Instonians), Gary Wilson (Surrey)