Pakistan won their Group A match against Kenya played at Hambantota by a record margin of 205 runs. Pakistan garnered two points from the win while Kenya suffered to their successive second humiliating defeat.
Pakistan chose to bat first after skipper Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss. Kenya struck immediately removing both the openers, Mohammad Hafeez (9) and Ahmed Shehzad (1) with just 12 runs on the scorecard. However, Pakistan hit back through a 98-run partnership between Kamran Akmal and Younis Khan for the third wicket. Akmal scored 55 runs that came from 67 balls with five fours.
Younis Khan too brought up his fifty off 66 balls but was out next ball, falling leg before to veteran Steve Tikolo. After Younis’ dismissal, Misbah and Umar Akmal scored runs at a brisk pace and put on 118 runs for the fifth wicket. Misbah scored a 69-ball 65 runs while the younger Akmal helped himself with a superb 71 runs that came from just 52 balls with eight fours and a six. For the record, all these were the first 50+ scores of these batsmen in the World Cups.
Kenya gave away 46 runs as extras including 37 wides. Thomas Odoyo was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/41 from seven overs.
Going by their performance in the first match, Kenya would not have given themselves a chance to chase down the 318 runs. Maurice Ouma (16) and Seren Waters (17) raised 37 runs for the first wicket but once the first wicket fell the Kenyan innings fell apart. Only Collins Obuya (47) and Steve Tikolo (13) managed to get into double figures. Obuya scored a 58-ball 47 runs with three sixes and an equal number of fours. Four of the Kenyan batsmen were out for ducks, as Shahid Afridi ran through the batting order in quick time. Afridi picked up 5/16, which are the best bowling figures for a captain in the World Cups.
The 205-run win is the biggest win for Pakistan in the World Cups and Umar Akmal was chosen as the player of the match for his superb 71 runs. Pakistan will meet Sri Lanka on Saturday in their next group encounter.