England, set 178 to win in a match reduced by rain to 43 overs per side, finished on 178 for three at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, with 10 overs to spare.

They now face shock second round qualifiers Ireland, the country Dublin-born Joyce used to represent, in their opening Super Eight clash on Friday in Providence, Guyana.

Joyce and Kevin Pietersen, who was dropped on seven before making 56 not out, put on for 103 for the third wicket after England had wobbled at 52 for two.

The 28-year-old Joyce delighted during his stay at the wicket, cutting seamer Lameck Onyango for four and, two balls later, pulling him for six.

Joyce, who only made his England debut against Ireland in Belfast in June, completed a 59-ball fifty, which included seven boundaries. It was his fourth score of fifty or more in 15 matches. It looked as if he would have the honour of scoring the winning runs, but with England on the brink of victory he was bowled by Kenya captain Steve Tikolo's 'doosra'.