Today was the turn to see Pakistan in action as they played Kenya today. Kenya desperate to show they had learned from there mistakes in the first match but it was Pakistan which turned on the style with ball and bat as they won this match by 205 runs.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. For Pakistan it didnt start off to well for them as they struggled in the early parts of the match. They lost there openers for the score of 12 runs only. Kenya continued to bowl well and only conceded 40 runs in the first power play. Kenya continued to bowl well and in the second powerplay they only conceded 21 runs but more importantly Pakistan hadnt lost a wicket and they started to play there fluent innings.
Pakistan then started to get into there stride as Kamran Akmal ticked the scoreboard over while Younus Khan was anchoring the innings along. They reached there 100 runs in 22.4 overs and Kamran Akmal also reached his 50 off 62 bowls. But just before they started to take off Pakistan the Kenyans took the price wicket of K Akmal for 55 off 67 balls.
The 2 experienced players were now at the wicket (Younus Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq the captain). They used there experiences as they kept the score ticking over without too much risk and reached there 150 off 32 overs. Soon after the drinks break Younus Khan made his 50 but he could not go on as he was LBW by Tikolo. It was revived by Pakistan but it was unsuccessful and that brought in Umar Akmal.
This is where the runs for Pakistan started to come off quickly. Pakistan made there 200 in the 39th over. In fact they had a 50 run partnership came soon afterwards and they had done this within 38 balls as Umar Akmal excel-rated the run rate. Soon after there 50 runs partnership Misbah-ul-Haq: 50 got hit 50 off 58 balls. With 43 overs gone Pakistan decided to take the final batting powerplay and this is where they punished Kenya as they hit 70 off the 5 overs. Umar Akmal hit a quick fire 50 off 40 balls. The partnership was broken finally but not after an 118 run stand when Misbah-ul-Haq was LBW to Kamande. Umar Akmal hit 71 runs off 52 bowls before he was out to Odoyo. Pakistan had done the damage as they easily made over 300 runs as they finished the innings on a score of 317-7.
A problem for the Kenya has been there batting over the last few years and today was no exception. They started off solidly as Kenya scored 37 runs off the first 10 overs but they lost a wicket on the last over in the first powerplay. The one shining light for Kenya in the batting was Obuya who scored a decent 47 runs. There third wicket partnership was 30 runs but then captain Shahid Afridi spin was too hot to handle for Kenya. He ripped through the middle order from 73-2 to 101-7 and inevitably were bowled out for 112.
It was an impressive start by Pakistan but they know that they will have harder matches to come as they will face Sri Lanka in the second match at Colombo so we will have a better idea how Sri Lanka and Pakistan are in shape after they face each other on Saturday.
Tomorrow I will have a review of the South Africa v West Indies. I am looking forward to seeing the new look South Africa and it will be interesting which West Indies team turn up tomorrow. I will go for South Africa to have too much but I will not rule out the West Indies on there day can beat anyone.
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