Pakistan cruise as Kenya crushed again

Hambantota, Sri Lanka: Kenya fell to a 205 run defeat as they were bowled out for 112, chasing 318 to win against Pakistan in the latter's first match in Group A of the ICC Cricket World Cup. Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi ran through the Kenyan middle order, taking 5 wickets for 16 in 8 overs, the best bowling figures by any bowler in World Cup history.

Chasing an unlikely target at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Ground at Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Kenya never looked interested in going for a win. Seren Waters was brilliantly run out for 17 by Umar Akmal to start the slide. Fellow opener Maurice Ouma followed soon for 16 off 37 balls, caught behind off Umar Gul.

Collins Obuya tried to hold it together for Kenya with the experienced Steve Tikolo. But, his efforts went in vain as Shahid Afridi blew away his partners. The end came quickly after Tikolo was bowled by Afridi for 13. Obuya missed his half century as he too fell to the leg spinner's guile, holing out for 47 off 58 balls, the only substantial innings by a Kenyan in the match.

The rest of the innings was a procession to the pavilion as Afridi was supported by 2 wickets from Umar Gul and one by Mohammed Hafeez with two run outs adding to an all-round performance. Umar Akmal was Man of the Match for his 71 runs and fielding effort, which saw him take a catch and effect a run out.

Earlier, Pakistan recovered from a slow start after opting to bat against Kenya to reach 317 for7 in their opening World Cup Group A match at the Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium here Wednesday. Pakistan were 12 for 2 after the seventh over with Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez falling in quick succession. Hafeez went first for 9, caught smartly by Seren Waters off Elijah Otieno and Shehzad for 1 off 18 balls fell to a Jimmy Kamande catch off Thomas Odoyo. Kamran Akmal made 55 off 67 balls and added 98 with Younis Khan (50 off 67) as Pakistan recovered.

Kamran was stumped in the end by Maurice Ouma off Steve Tikolo, having hit 5 fours. Vetran Younis Khan scored only 2 fours in his innings before falling LBW to Tikolo. After the fall of Younis in the 34th over, Pakistan's man in form, Misbah ul-Haq, and the 'other' Akmal, Umar, younger brother of Kamran came together as Pakistan started to accelerate.

The duo put on 118 off 80 balls before Misbah fell, trying to loft Jimmy Kamande over the long on boundary, but finding Otieno. He made 65 off 69 balls with a four and 2 sixes. Pakistan was 273 for 5 at this stage with 19 balls left in the innings. Misbah's fall brought Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi to the crease, even as Akmal kept on his merry way at the other end till he holed out in the deep to Collins Obuya, trying for quick runs, off Thomas Odoyo. He made 71 off 52 balls. Shahid Afridi, who had taken strike after crossing over as Umar was caught, was LBW off Odoyo's next ball for 7.

Abdur Rehman, promoted to join Abdul Razzaq, was not tested on the hat-trick ball as it went for 5 leg-side wides. Two more wides completed Pakistan's 300 as Kenya's extras swelled., many of them wides by Odoyo, who took 3 for 41 off 7 overs. The fiftieth over saw more wides as Pakistan scrambled 16 more runs to end the innings at 317 for 7. Kenya set a forgettable record of 37 wides in an innings out of 46 extras conceded.