Four half-centuries propel Pakistan to a total of 317-7

By Suneer Chowdhary

 

Four half-centuries and a near-fifth by Mr. Extras propelled Pakistan to a potentially match-winning 317 for seven in their 50 overs against Kenya at Hambantota

Kamaran Akmal against Kenya

By Suneer Chowdhary

 

Hambantota, February 23, 2011

Four half-centuries and a near-fifth by Mr. Extras propelled Pakistan to a potentially match-winning 317 for seven in their 50 overs against Kenya at Hambantota.

In what seems to be fast becoming a trend in this edition’s World Cup, the Pakistanis started off rather cautiously – almost bordering on the nervous – but recovered well through these four half-centuries to post get to the 300-plus score in their game against Kenya at Habantota. At one stage, the Kenyans seemed to have put a spanner in the openers’ work by sending them back cheaply.

The opening gambit has turned a full wheel, one would say. Back in 1992, Mark Greatbatch had invented the use of the fielding restrictions for the good of the opening batsmen and Sanath Jayasuriya had perfected it in 1996. Fifteen years on, teams seem to have gone back to the days of Mike Brearley and Geoff Boycott, waiting for the initial seam and swing to die before exploding.

Pakistan were unfortunate in not only starting off slowly but losing both their openers to deliveries that stopped on them. Ahmed Shehzad waited for 13 balls before opening his account but departed for one (18 balls) after Mohammad Hafeez had been sent back by Elijah Otieno.

However, once the first and second-change bowlers were brought into the attack, things became much simpler. Only 24 runs had come off the first nine overs and as Nehemiah Odhiambo came into the attack, a barrage of no-balls and boundaries ensured 16 off the 10th over.

Kamran Akmal and Younis Khan looked as comfortable as they would ever have as dabbled around, taking the singles and twos, whilst hitting the odd boundary. The pair added 98 for the third wicket and could have got much more but Akmal got to his half-century and was stumped trying to heave the ball outside the city.

Misbah-ul-Haq joined Younis and opened his account with a six off a free-hit. That shot apart, there was only one other boundary and yet, Misbah worked his way around to another half-century – continuing his rich streak of form. Younis followed Akmal in the shed after getting to his half century, but that did not bring any relief to the now-flailing Kenyan attack.

The younger of the Akmal brothers, Umar, got to the middle and with Misbah, had a century-run stand for the fifth wicket. In the process, Umar also got to his half-century, making him the fourth in the innings as Pakistan quickly accelerated in the same manner as Australia had in the last 10 overs against Zimbabwe.

In the final analysis, the number of wides that the Kenyan bowlers sent down from the 10th over onwards and Pakistan’s batting in the batting Powerplay turned the game in Pakistan’s favour. Kenya bowled 37 wides in that period and conceded 71 runs in the five overs of the batting Powerplay to allow Pakistan 113 in the last 10 overs. This also ensures that Kenya would be chasing the moon when they come out to bat in the second innings.

Brief scores: Pakistan 317for seven in 50 overs (Umar Akmal 71, Misbah-ul-Haq 65; Thomas Odoya 3 for 41, Steve Tikolo 1 for 44) vs Kenya

(Suneer is a Mumbai-based cricket writer and can be contacted at suneerchowdhary@gmail.com)

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