Pakistan v Kenya - ICC World Cup 2011 update
Pakistan has racked up 212 runs for the loss of four wickets in 42 overs in their opening ICC World Cup game against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752 being played at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Stadium in Hambantota.
Younis Khan and Misbah-ul Haq mustered half-centuries, steering Pakistan to a comfortable position at 155 for 4 in 34 overs. The pair added 45 runs to steady their team’s ship. However, Younis (50) fell in the process, as poor shot selection brought about
his downfall.
Meanwhile, Misbah (50) has remained calm at the crease and is looking good to play the complete quota of fifty overs. He has been precise in picking up the length of seam bowlers, while his footwork against the spinners has been immaculate.
Umar Akmal has joined his senior partner, and has so far added 24 runs to his team’s total. From the start, he has looked positive and has been calculated in his shot selection. He is looking well set for a brutal onslaught in the final power-play.
Earlier, Shahid Afridi won the toss and showed no hesitation in batting first on a batting paradise.
However, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 openers Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez fell for grim scores, leaving their team wobbling at 12 for 2 in seven overs.
Nevertheless, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319 and Kamran Akmal revived their team’s innings with a resilient 98-run partnership. In the act, Akmal scored his maiden half-century and took the opposition bowlers to the cleaners, hammering five boundaries in a classical display of batting.
It is a position from where the Pakistan lower-order can go ballistic, and can score runs briskly in the final eight overs. Strikers such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 and Abdul Razzak will be relishing the opportunity to bat in the death overs.
Kenyan bowlers, despite a determined bowling effort in the first 20 overs, have struggled to deliver a persistent line and length with the white kookaburra.
Nonetheless, Shem Ngoche has been the star performer for his team with the ball, picking up 1 for 46 in his spell of ten overs. Thomas Odoyo, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Elijah-Otieno-c55866 and Steve Tikolo have all chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Kenyan bowlers have to mix up their lengths on a regular basis in order to limit Pakistan’s total. Otherwise, Pakistani strikers will steal the show with their ruthless batting.
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