Wed, 23Feb 2011-Pakistan vs Kenya World Cup 2011-6th match Group A-Bulletin

Pakistan roll past timid Kenya

Pakistan bowlers backed up the good work of their batsmen in the first innings by bowling out Kenya for only 112 runs to win their first group A match by a huge margin of 205 runs played at Hambantota Cricket Stadium.

Spirited bowling performance was led by Pakistan captain and leg spinner Shahid Afridi who turned out to be too hot for Kenyan batsmen taking five wickets for only 16 runs.

The bowling effort followed the Pakistan posting big total of 317 runs that  was possible thanks to the solid contributions from the middle order batsmen  with four of them scoring fifties each to put Pakistan in a strong position after a  shaky start that saw both of openers fell cheaply inside first seven overs.

Kenyan reply to the huge target lacked intent and skill with Pakistan bowlers giving nothing away making the chase virtually impossible for inexperienced batting line-up.

Openers, though, started well before Seren Water’s run-out on team score of 37 runs triggering a massive collapse with batsmen not able to pick up Afridi’s quicker ones and googlies.

Umar Gul with two wickets and Hafeez with one added to the Kenyan difficulties as Pakistan also ran-out two of Kenyan batsmen including that of Waters courtesy brilliant fielding from Umar Akmal hitting the stumps direct from short mid-wicket.

Afridi got most of their wickets by his googlies and straight quicker ones becoming only few Pakistani spinners to pick up a fifer in a world cup game.

For Kenya, lone person to impress in the batting department by scoring a gritty 47 hitting three huge sixes in his innings that saw only four Kenyan batsmen crossing the double figure mark.

In batting Pakistan overcame a disastrous beginning to bat Kenya out of the match.

After a rearguard partnership from Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal, it was Misbah and Umar Akmal’s aggressive 118 run partnership that made hapless Kenyan bowlers and fielders to run for the cover.

Umar Akmal was very sedate to start with but exploded once batting powerplay was taken hitting bowlers to all parts of the ground while Misbah hit a six off free-hit to open his account but settled down into his own run making mode to rotate the strike and hit occasional boundaries.

In his 52 ball 71-run inning, Umar hit 8 fours and a six making sure he makes most of average Kenyan bowling which he tore apart by his array of strokes. He cut, swept, pulled and found the gaps at will.

What was good about Umar’s innings was way he paced it which has been lacking in his batting off late.

Misbah continued on his run accumulating ways and posted yet another fifty nearly a run a ball effort of 65 runs punctuated with one hit to the fence and two huge sixes.

It was, however, left to batting partnership of older Akmal and Younis to lay platform for rest of the batsmen by doing a repair work after Hafeez and Shahzad went early to some disciplined bowling effort of Kenyan opening bowlers.

Kamran showed some aggression early in his innings to put bowlers on the back foot and he opened floodgates taking 16 runs from Nehemiah Odiambho first over.

Younis, on other hand, concentrated on picking up gaps and looked assured while scoring his 40th half-century.

After a good disciplined start, Kenyan bowlers lost it to Pakistan onslaught conceding 112 runs in last ten overs of the innings.

They were all over the shop and gave away as many as 40 runs as extras.

Left arm spinner, Ngoche was only bowlers to show some heart and fight giving only 44 runs in his ten overs and taking Kamran’s wicket in the way.

Pakistan were off to a sluggish start losing Hafeez, brilliantly caught by Seren Waters at short midwicket off Elijah’s bowling.

Seren threw full length to his left to cling on to a Hafeez chip after juggling thrice to end opener’s 20-ball 9 run innings with team score reading on 11 runs.

Hafeez was soon followed by his opening partner Shahzad who lobbed a simple catch to mid-on off Odoyo’s bowling for 1 one coming off 18 balls.

Man of the Match - Umar Akmal (Pakistan)

Pakistan in command against Kenya

Pakistan were sniffing an easy victory in their first world cup game as Kenya were tottering at 79 runs for the loss of three wickets while chasing a huge target of 318 runs.

In reply to Pakistan’s total, Kenya never looked to threaten the target as required run rate   kept climbing by every over bowled and there was lack of intent on the part of Kenyan batsmen to get anywhere close to the chase.

Collins Obuya on 16 and Mishra on one were at the crease.

For Pakistan, Afridi and Umar Gul took a wicket apiece with Seren Waters run out courtesy a brilliant piece of fielding from Umar Akmal.

Kenya openers show character

Kenya were 37 for the loss of Seren Waters wicket for 17 who was run out by a swift piece of fielding from Umar Akmal at the end of 10 overs while chasing a mammoth target of 318 runs set by Pakistan.

Ouma on 14 was batting alongside Collin Obuya.

Both Kenyan openers applied themselves well against the opening bowling pair of Shoab and Razzaq to make sure there was not a repeat of dismal show they put against New Zealand.

Though they were cautious with their approach and required run-rate was climbing all the time.

Middle order powers Pakistan to 317

Solid contributions from the middle order batsmen has helped Pakistan to post a big total of 317 runs in their first innings against Kenya in their first Group A game against Kenya played at Hambantota Cricket Stadium.

Four of the middle order batsmen scored fifties each to put Pakistan in a strong position it were off to shaky start that saw both of openers fell cheaply inside first seven overs.

After a rearguard partnership from Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal, it was Misbah and Umar Akmal’s aggressive 118 run partnership that made hapless Kenyan bowlers and fielders to run for the cover.

Umar Akmal was very sedate to start with but exploded once batting powerplay was taken hitting bowlers to all parts of the ground while Misbah hit a six off free-hit to open account but settled down into his own run making mode to rotate the strike and hit occasional boundaries.

In his 52 ball 71-run inning, Umar © eContent.in