Clinical http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752 in their opening World Cup match at Hambantota
PAK 317/7 50 overs KEN 112 all out 33.1 overs
The Kenyans were in the game for only six overs as Pakistan recovered brilliantly from a shocking start to topple the minnows by a whopping 205 runs in their opening match of the ICC World Cup played at Hambantota.
Pakistan lost their opening duo of Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad with only 12 runs on the board. They got off to a shaky start, but were left off the hook by the indiscipline of the Kenyan bowlers who conceded as many as 46 extras to propel the Men
in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Green-c60723 to a mammoth score of 317. Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Misbah Ul Haq and Umar Akmal all posted half centuries to lead the recovery.
Kamran and Younis added 98 runs for the 3rd wicket; Kamran was dismissed after scoring 55 runs, while Younis (50) followed soon after caught leg before wicket off Tikolo.
Umar Akmal and Misbah put up a defining partnership, adding 118 runs in just over 13 overs. The duo made great use of the batting power-play adding 71 runs in the 5 overs of that stage. Akmal was the top scorer with 71 runs scored off a mere 58 balls.
The Kenyans started their run-chase cautiously and seemed to bat out the overs, rather than challenging the target with any great purpose.
Kenya were 73 for 3 in the 23rd over, reeling behind the massive target. The middle-order were just as ineffective; the remaining seven wickets fell for a mere 39 runs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Collins-c51521 Obuya who scored 47 off 58 balls striking 3 fours and 3 sixes was the highest
scorer.
Pakistani skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 who returned his best World Cup figures claimed 5/16 off 8 overs. This is the first five wicket haul in the tournament so far. On the other end Umar Gul chipped in with 2 scalps of his own as the match was done and dusted
in the 34th over with the African team 205 runs short of the target.
Umar Akmal was named Man of the Match. Pakistanis play their next game against co-hosts http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 at Colombo on Saturday.
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