Moments away from the start. The Pakistan openers stride out. Ahmed Shehzad, what an exciting prospect he is. And the solid Mohammad Hafeez to partner him. Thomas Odoyo has the new ball

2.25 pm The teams line up for the national anthems, led by all those children, as usual. Kenya's anthem up first. Pakistan's anthem on now, and Chacha Cricket holds up the Pakistan flag high and tall.

M_Akram_Bhatti: "Is it right move not to give a chance to young guy Junaid Khan against an associate side?" Well, you could say that, but considering its their opening game, they would want to hit the ground with their best side.

El Nino: "Nitin, are you on commentary today?" No, he isn't. Abhishek, that is me, and Sriram Veera will bring you the commentary, and the over-by-over chat today.

Adeel: "Come on Pakistan this is like playing in your backyard boys. Sri Lanka is our second home today we gotta rock :)"

Well, given the way they performed, or didn't, against NZ, you wouldn't give Kenya much of a chance against a Pakistan team that seems to have rediscovered its verve and flair. Sriram Veera wonders whether Kenya will be able to shed their big-stage nerves in his preview. But then again, whoever expected the Dutch to give the English such a huge fright yesterday? So you see, predicting the outcome of a game involving an Associate is not so simple as it might seem. Why don't you try your hand at it? Let us know who will win this match.

Alright, how many of you have Shoaib Akhtar in your Fantasy team? He could be a handful against the Kenyans under lights. And what's more, we are giving away a FREE 13 inch Macbook Air Notebook if you win. Click here.

2 pm Shahid Afridi wins the toss and Pakistan will have a bat. "We will look to put up a good score, the surface looks dry. The squad is quite balanced. We are going with two seamers, Shoaib and Umar Gul."

Kamande: "We want to improve from the New Zealand game. We didn't turn up for that game. Will look to restrict Pakistan with our spinners." Tanmay Mishra in for Alex Obanda.

As we wait for the toss, you could warm up by predicting the playing XI for today's match.

Welcome to our coverage of the Group A game between Kenya and Pakistan in Hambantota. Pakistan open their campaign today, while Kenya will look to quickly forget what happened in Chennai, when they were blown away by New Zealand.

0.1

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, good delivery to start with, pitches it on a length and gets it to shape away from outside off stump, left alone

0.2

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, on target again, getting some away movement, he takes a step out and leaves it alone

0.3

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, this one went straight on after pitching close to off, he was forward and was struck on the pads, but outside the line

0.4

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, straightens this time from around off, good stuff from Thomo, bit of bounce too, defended down the track

0.5

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, 2 runs, bowls it too straight now, around middle and is picked away through midwicket

0.6

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, 2 runs, pleasing stroke, easy on the eyes, he takes a step out, and caresses the full delivery through covers, not much power on the shot though

Elijah Otieno will share the new ball with Thomas

1.1

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, bowls a fullish delivery angled on around off stump, he takes a half step out and drives back down the pitch, the bowler gets a hand to it

1.2

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 leg bye, plants the front foot across the stumps, and works this one on off to square leg

1.3

Otieno to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run, not much pace from either of the bowlers, but they have been on target though, this one on middle is driven to mid on, Ngoche was the fielder and he got some bad bounce, and a misfield results

1.4

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, no movement for Otieno so far, pitching it full on the stumps and is driven past the non-striker to mid on

1.5

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, left alone outside the off stump

1.6

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, good probing delivery, not full enough for the drive, not short enough for the cut, close to off stump, he was in two minds initially but let it go finally

2.1

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, takes it on the pads as he looks to whip it through midwicket, the ball rolls away harmlessly on the leg side

2.2

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, again getting that front foot forward and across, and then brings down the bat in front of pad to flick a length ball to midwicket

2.3

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, Odoyo's turn to bowl the probing line outside off stump, he leaves it alone wisely as two slips wait

2.4

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, goes wider this time outside off, and moving away after pitching around back of a length, easily left alone

2.5

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, gets forward to defend a length ball outside off, Odoyo gets some extra bounce that strikes him high on the bat

2.6

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, ooh, that was close, he had him playing across to a fullish one on the stumps, and he ended up scooping it in the air, but it fell in no man;s land just behind the non-striker's stumps

3.1

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, Otieno continues with the channel outside off stump, this time he got it to come in a bit from a length, left alone

3.2

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, more steady stuff from Otieno, he gets some extra bounce now, but its outside off and he lets it go

3.3

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, he is getting just a tad touchy here, yet to get off the mark, takes a step forward and across, and plays a length ball to midwicket

3.4

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, stayed on the back foot looking to thump him through covers, but he got a lot of bounce and he had to play it out to short extra cover, there is bounce in this track, the Pakistani seamers will love it

3.5

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, good tidy stuff from the Kenyans, left alone outside off

3.6

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, that nagging length which is not there for any shot but the forcing one, he tries to play one but short extra cover is there in the way

4.1

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, straightening from around off stump again, played out to point

4.2

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, this one died on its way to the keeper, it was left outside off stump

4.3

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR, the first boundary of the innings arrives, and it took a different approach to achieve that, Hafeez walked across his stumps and lifted a length delivery over square leg, and it just about made the ropes

4.4

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, good response from the bowler, bit of extra effort, comes back in a long way from outside off, struck him on the pads, but way outside the line as he pushed forward

4.5

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, has him stretching out now, to a delivery pitched fuller, and he pushes to short extra cover

4.6

Odoyo to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, looks to get that big incoming delivery going again, this one does not move in as much, defended cautiously

5.1

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, he was standing outside off stump ages before the ball was delivered, Otieno stuck to the line outside off, and he pushed it back to the bowler in the end

5.2

Otieno to Ahmed Shehzad, 1 run, he is finally off the mark off the 13th ball, getting a thick edge as he pushed at one dug in back of a length outside off

5.3

Otieno to Mohammad Hafeez, OUT, jeez, what a ripper! it was clipped neatly off the toes, and was in the gap too, but just as it was about to pass midwicket, Waters went screaming to his left horizontally, took the ball, but even as he fell it went out of his grasp, but he took it cleanly in the end with the right hand, an absolute screamer, Hafeez cannot believe it, but he has to walk back after umpteen replays confirm it was clean

Mohammad Hafeez c Waters b Otieno 9 (24m 20b 1x4 0x6) SR: 45.00

Kamran Akmal walks in

5.4

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, no run, bends his back and gets it to bounce from back of a length, he stays back and plays it backward of point

5.5

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, 1 no ball, Kamran stays in the crease and thumps this back of a length ball off the back foot, extra cover dives and fields, but Otieno has over stepped

5.5

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, no run, can't get the free hit away for much, he got behind the shortish ball, but hammered it not far away from mid off

5.6

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, no run, very full on the stumps, flicked elegantly to mid on

Vikram: "in this Kenyan team, if your name doesn't start with the 15th letter of the alphabet, you'd feel you didn't belong!"

6.1

Odoyo to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, back of a length outside off, played down the track

6.2

Odoyo to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, he is standing outside off as the ball is delivered and plays out a length ball towards mid on, this is tight stuff from Kenya

6.3

Odoyo to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, there for the cut, short and wide, but he misses out, it was gentle delivery but he could not connect

6.4

Odoyo to Ahmed Shehzad, no run, defended off the back foot towards mid off

6.5

Odoyo to Ahmed Shehzad, OUT, Shehzad's stuttering stay in the middle is over, it was a length ball on off, nothing special about it, but he wanted to go midwicket, ended up going in the air straight to mid off as he got the leading edge, he had been going across the stumps, and trying to play across the line for some time now, and has paid the price ultimately

Ahmed Shehzad c Kamande b Odoyo 1 (32m 18b 0x4 0x6) SR: 5.55

The man for such situations, Younis Khan, is out there. He has lots to do

6.6

Odoyo to Younis Khan, no run, nicely on top of a length delivery close to off stump, and defends it confidently in to the off side

Abbas: "Are these guys playing Kenya or Australia of yesteryear in disguise?"

7.1

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, no run, shuffles across and plays out a full delivery to midwicket

7.2

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, 3 runs, rare poor delivery, full toss on the stumps, helped past a diving mid on for some useful runs, if the throw had come to the non-striker's end, it wouldn't have been so useful actually, he would have been gone

7.3

Otieno to Younis Khan, no run, remains in the crease, and plays out a length ball towards short extra cover

7.4

Otieno to Younis Khan, no run, he angles most of his deliveries full in to the right hander, finishing around off stump, and that's what makes it tough to whip him away through midwicket, another one is defended

7.5

Otieno to Younis Khan, 1 run, this time he goes middle with the angle, and it allows Younis to pick him away through square leg for a single

7.6

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, 2 runs, for the second time this over he bowls a full toss, outside off stump, and he Kamran gets forward and finds the gap past mid off for a couple

Neerav: "Here there is a Patel in Kenya Team. I wonder this is the most used surname in Cricket. India,England,New Zealand, Kenya and Canada have Patels. Zimbabwe and SA have Patels in Domestic cricket. And the only incident in Cricket where all 22 players were Patels happened in England in London on July 19, 2001 between Yorkshire LPS and Amarmilan in Bradford."

8.1

Odoyo to Younis Khan, 3 runs, they are gifting full tosses now, another one is whipped through midwicket, slows down as it nears the boundary, and that allows the man running in from deep square leg to put in the dive and save a run

8.2

Odoyo to Kamran Akmal, no run, played out in to the off side

8.3

Odoyo to Kamran Akmal, no run, tucked away off the pads towards midwicket, cannot get the single

8.4

Odoyo to Kamran Akmal, 2 runs, one more full toss, where are the Kenyan replacements, the pressure is being released, this one is flicked past square leg

8.5

Odoyo to Kamran Akmal, 1 wide, Odoyo is losing it here, now he bowls a short one that goes way down leg

8.5

Odoyo to Kamran Akmal, no run, short again, but the line is on middle, and he defends off the back foot

8.6

Odoyo to Kamran Akmal, no run, yet another full toss, this time he misses out, and drives it straight to mid on

Odhiambo replaces Otieno

9.1

Odhiambo to Younis Khan, (no ball) FOUR, he is welcomed with a straight drive past the non-striker, it was a half volley and Younis capitalised, getting the placement perfect, and also gets a no-ball as Odhiambo oversteps by a huge margin

9.1

Odhiambo to Younis Khan, no run, gives it a heave, but it was a slower ball on target, and he could only hit it to deepish mid off

9.2

Odhiambo to Younis Khan, 1 run, he is looking good here Younis, gets quickly on the back foot and steers a length ball to third man

9.3

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, 1 no ball, Kamran looks to do the same, steer that is, but this one is very close to the body, and he chops it on the crease, one more no-ball

9.3

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, (no ball) FOUR, gets a short one, and sends it screaming over the square leg umpire for a boundary, and Odhiambo has overstepped again, he has wasted whatever the opening bowlers managed to do

9.3

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, FOUR, not a no-ball this time, but it is a hit-me full toss, and Kamran hammers it over the bowler in a flash

9.4

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, finally gets one on target, in the channel outside off stump, he lets it go

9.5

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, gets well forward to a length delivery and plays it out to point

9.6

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, goes stretching forward again, and pushes out this one again to point

The bowling Powerplay is taken. Otieno has changed ends

10.1

Otieno to Younis Khan, no run, he is right on the money, bowling one full on off stump, he goes across to drive it to mid on

10.2

Otieno to Younis Khan, 1 run, gets an inside edge as he looks to whip this angled delivery, and it scoots away in front of square leg

10.3

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, no run, full again, this time outside off stump, driven down to mid off

10.4

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, no run, he is keeping it consistently full on the stumps, Kamran cannot get timing on the drive, sends the ball to mid on

10.5

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, 2 runs, not short enough, but Kamran is game for the cut, and gets it to deep point for a couple

10.6

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, reverts to the full length again, and is pushed past the non-striker;s stumps for a single

11.1

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, pacy delivery dug in short of a length, played back to the bowler

11.2

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, times the punch really well, but hits it straight to extra cover,. who is right on the edge of the circle

11.3

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, FOUR, Kamran gets innovative, and very effective too, goes across and outside the off stump to pick a length delivery over midwicket, he got the swing and the connection just right

11.4

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, gets forward confidently and drives this length ball towards cover

11.5

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, another lovely drive, getting to the pitch in an instant, and pinging mid off with a powerful drive

11.6

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, as free flowing as possible, opens the bat face to drive a length ball to cover, oh if elegance could get runs, Kamran would have had 12 for those three shots

12.1

Otieno to Younis Khan, no run, very full, almost in the blockhole, his bat turns in his hands and he plays it out towards midwicket

12.2

Otieno to Younis Khan, 3 runs, top shot from Younis, stretched forward and got the placement between cover and extra cover

12.3

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, no run, surprises him with the short one, got big on him, he was going forward already, hastily backtracked and fended it on the leg side, it was in the air for a while but there was no one there

12.4

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, stays back and works one away through square leg

12.5

Otieno to Younis Khan, no run, that was the perfect one-day delivery, just around back of a length, finishing on off stump, no room to do anything but defend, which Younis does crisply

12.6

Otieno to Younis Khan, no run, confident stride forward and dead bats a length ball towards the covers

Robert: "if elegance could get runs then david gower would be ahead of bradman."

13.1

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, FOUR, lovely placement from Kamran, got some width outside off stump, and just went through with the shot, driving on the up past point, and wide of third man who saw it clatter into the boundary

13.2

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, full outside off stump, gets forward and drives to mid off

13.3

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, remains in the crease and lets this one comes in and hit his broad defensive blade

13.4

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, gets away with a full toss, it was worked away wide of mid on but he was quick to get to it, and put in the dive to save the boundary

13.5

Odhiambo to Younis Khan, 1 run, gets an inside edge as he whips this fullish ball which goes backward of square leg

13.6

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, gets forward and plays out a length ball with an open face to point

Chris: "@Robert: Then Mark Waugh would never get out." Not many would be complaining though, except the opposition

Sachin MS: "Speaking of Elegance...VVS Laxman never played in a world cup.. " Don't remind me of such tragic happenings

While the players grab a cuppa, make sure you don't miss out on anything while you are on the move. Try our smart-phone apps.

14.1

Otieno to Younis Khan, no run, lets a length ball come on outside off and guides it to point, thought about a single for a moment, only a fleeting moment

14.2

Otieno to Younis Khan, 1 run, wide outside off stump and slashed away to a squarish third man

14.3

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, no run, goes back to a short of a length ball and looks to tap it into covers but it goes straight to the fielder

14.4

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, no run, good fielding at mid off, it was driven sweetly but he dived to his right to save a few

14.5

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, no run, a bouncer from Kenya, there haven;t been many of those, Kamran goes down underneath it, there is a man at deep square leg

14.6

Otieno to Kamran Akmal, 2 runs, this time his straight drive is so straight that mid off had no chance, dive or whatever, mid on gives chase to haul it back in

15.1

Odhiambo to Younis Khan, no run, defends a full pitched delivery in to the off side

15.2

Odhiambo to Younis Khan, 1 run, too straight, Younis flicks it to deep square leg to bring up the 50 of the partnership

15.3

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, 1 wide, Odhiambo goes down leg with the short ball, put in the effort, but lost the radar

15.3

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, rides the bounce on this one and punches it on his toes to point

15.4

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, no run, looked to come forward, found the ball wasn't full enough and went back to punch it again to point

15.5

Odhiambo to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, stays a bit low outside off stump, he adjusts to hit it away to sweeper cover

15.6

Odhiambo to Younis Khan, 1 run, nicely done by Younis, went forward and tapped a length ball towards extra cover to scamper through for a run

Time for spin, of the left-arm variety, Shem Ngoche comes on

16.1

Ngoche to Younis Khan, no run, good loopy delivery, bit of turn from off stump, played out towards extra cover

16.2

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 1 run, flights it fuller, he uses the wrists to work it square on the leg side

16.3

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, no run, head on top of the tossed up delivery as he comes forward and defends in to the off side

16.4

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, paddles a full delivery on middle stump, can be dangerous but he got this one alright to fine leg

16.5

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 1 run, tossed up teasingly outside off stump, Yonis drives it all along the ground to sweeper cover

16.6

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, short and turning away, sweeper cover is in business again as Kamran cuts this one away

Kamande is on for some off spin

17.1

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, 3 runs, short outside off and not much turn, easily cut away wide of sweeper cover

17.2

Kamande to Younis Khan, no run, closer to off stump and flighted too, he defends it calmly

17.3

Kamande to Younis Khan, 1 run, hit down to long on this time

17.4

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, no run, bit of turn and some bounce too, he is surprised as he keeps it down in to the leg side

17.5

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, 3 runs, bounce again, but this one is short outside off stump, he goes for the slash and gets it fine on the off side, this outfield is huge, and the fielder pulls it back inside the ropes after a long chase

17.6

Kamande to Younis Khan, 1 run, full on leg stump, helped down to long on for a run

JP: "Re topic of elegance: There are some signature shots that leave an impression as well. For example, the elbow twitch from David Boon before his cover drive. That is a memory from my teens and is still fresh."

18.1

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 1 run, flighted generously, comes down almost in the blockhole, he waits and then digs it out to long off

18.2

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, flatter this time, and driven to sweeper cover

18.3

Ngoche to Younis Khan, no run, hurries on after pitching on middle stump, he backs away outside leg and cuts it to point, got the bat down just in time

18.4

Ngoche to Younis Khan, no run, Ngoche saves a single, dives to his left and cuts off the drive down the ground

18.5

Ngoche to Younis Khan, no run, comes forward and plays this one back to the bowler

18.6

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 1 run, ending up on leg stump, and whipped away backward of square leg

19.1

Kamande to Younis Khan, 1 wide, sprays this full delivery way down the leg side

19.1

Kamande to Younis Khan, no run, played out to square leg off the back foot

19.2

Kamande to Younis Khan, 1 run, gets some time as the shortish one spins in, and punches it down to long on

19.3

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, take a step forward, tap the ball in front of point, and take the single, neatly done

19.4

Kamande to Younis Khan, FOUR, Kamande goes down the leg side again, this time Younis takes toll, sweeps him backward of square leg, just helped it on its way

19.5

Kamande to Younis Khan, no run, better stuff, around off stump, defended off the front foot

19.6

Kamande to Younis Khan, no run, comes forward and drives this slow flighted one to midwicket

20.1

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, 2 runs, takes this from the fourth stump, and late cuts it past backward point, how deft is that

20.2

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, no run, goes back and plays this one out towards covers

20.3

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, no run, good flight on this one, he comes forward and drives it back to the bowler

20.4

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, too much leg side on that one, helped away to fine leg on one knee

20.5

Ngoche to Younis Khan, no run, still more flight, he seems to have a heart alright, driven to wide mid off on the front foot

20.6

Ngoche to Younis Khan, no run, another full and tossed up delivery played out towards extra cover

21.1

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, 2 runs, he is getting a lot of runs behind point, waited for a full one to arrive outside off and squeezed it past backward point

21.2

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, no run, loud appeal from Kamande, but that one was going down leg, he was struck on the pads as he looked to whip it through midwicket

21.3

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, driven past extra cover for a single

21.4

Kamande to Younis Khan, 1 run, pings long off with the drive, got to the pitch of this flighted delivery nicely

21.5

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, waits till the last instant, and guided this full delivery to the right of backward point

21.6

Kamande to Younis Khan, 1 run, Pakistan take six off the over in efficient riskless fashion, another one is driven to long on

22.1

Ngoche to Younis Khan, no run, pushes this tossed up ball back to Ngoche

22.2

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 2 runs, bowled slowly through the air, but a touch short and allows him to rock back and cut wide of sweeper cover

22.3

Ngoche to Younis Khan, no run, flighted on middle stump, nice control from the bowler, driven down the track

22.4

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 1 run, another tossed up delivery, now outside off stump, he drives to wide long off

22.5

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, 1 wide, went for a cute fine sweep, it was very full and he missed, and the ball just about went past leg stump

22.5

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, no run, misses out on the short ball, hitting it straight to extra cover

22.6

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, pinches a quick run with a tap behind point

this is Younis Khan;s highest World Cup score, would you believe it

23.1

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, no run, steered to backward point off the back foot

23.2

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, gets to his half-century with a punch off the back foot down to long on, he has led the recovery after the openers went nowhere

23.3

Kamande to Younis Khan, 1 run, another single down to long on, is there a count of how many times that happens in ODIs?

23.4

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, no run, goes for a heave-ho to a tossed up delivery outside off stump, and misses

23.5

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, no run, now he goes for the cut to a flat one turning in from outside off stump, and is beaten again

23.6

Kamande to Kamran Akmal, FOUR, this time he connects, poor ball down the leg side deservedly helped away fine for a boundary

24.1

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 1 run, takes a tossed up delivery on the half volley and limbers for a single as the ball goes to long off

24.2

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, 1 run, takes this one right off middle stump, as he leans back and cuts away to sweeper cover

24.3

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 1 run, Odoyo at long off is being kept busy with all these singles down the ground

24.4

Ngoche to Kamran Akmal, OUT, dear me, Kamran has lost it here, went charging blindly down the track to a tossed up delivery, and decided to swing it out of sight, but the ball turned past his flailing blade and Ouma did the rest, what a shame, he had batted so well, brain fade really, Ngoche is rewarded for flighting the ball

Kamran Akmal st †Ouma b Ngoche 55 (84m 67b 5x4 0x6) SR: 82.08

Afridi did not want Misbah and Younis batting together. Well now they are

24.5

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, flighted delivery full on the leg stump, played out tentatively to midwicket

24.6

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, skids on after pitching and was going for middle stump, but Misbah got the bat down at the last instant to push it out towards mid on

More slow stuff, now from Tikolo

25.1

Tikolo to Younis Khan, (no ball) 1 run, hammers this full one to long off, free hit coming up as Tikolo over steps

25.1

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, SIX, Misbah is away on his World Cup debut, got one in the slot, went down on a knee and swung it straight down the ground for maximum

25.2

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, dropped this one went straight through outside off and Misbah got a feather on it but Ouma clanged it,

25.3

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, played out towards midwicket

25.4

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, goes for the reverse sweep now, but misses, got just a glove on it

25.5

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, nurdled to short fine leg

25.6

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, stretches forward and pushes this one in the air, but past the reach of the bowler, this is tentative from Misbah

26.1

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, another reverse sweep, he connects this time, and gets it past backward point for a couple

26.2

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, short, poor delivery, he pulls it over midwicket but there is a man on the deep boundary there

26.3

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 1 run, leans out and pushes this one past the bowler towards long off

26.4

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, more short stuff and more pulling from Misbah, deep midwicket keeps them down to one

26.5

Ngoche to Younis Khan, no run, punched hard, but Kamande prevents the single with a diving stop running to his right from extra cover

26.6

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 1 run, down the pads, flicked away to short fine leg

27.1

Tikolo to Younis Khan, 1 run, driven powerfully, and the almost-mandatory single to long on results

27.2

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, flighted stiff from Kamande, he pings long on with the drive again

27.3

Tikolo to Younis Khan, no run, stays back and works this one away backward of square leg

27.4

Tikolo to Younis Khan, 1 run, eases into an elegant drive and finds long on

27.5

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, now Misbah goes back to a shortish one, and punches hard down the ground, singles, singles, all around

27.6

Tikolo to Younis Khan, no run, tight delivery around off stump, defended calmly

Anand: "Misbah and Younis are the Miandad and Salim Malik on this decade. Very calm, milk the bowling well and add in the occasional boundary!"

28.1

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, going forward and smothering the turn on this one outside off

28.2

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, super running, it was nurdled backward of square leg, and by the time the man running in from the boundary got there, they hared back for two

28.3

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, goes back and punches this turning one back to the bowler

28.4

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, the reverse sweep off a full delivery, Misbah has been trying that shot constantly, backward point helps by diving over the ball

28.5

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, the conventional sweep now, the ball bounds away backward of square leg

28.6

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 1 run, down to long off for yet another run, now, now if accumulation could come across as elegant, but unfortunately it doesn't

29.1

Tikolo to Younis Khan, 1 run, stretches forward and pushes this flattish one past the bowler to long off

29.2

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, worked past midwicket for a single

29.3

Tikolo to Younis Khan, no run, driven down the track, old man Tikolo dives to his right and saves the single

29.4

Tikolo to Younis Khan, 2 runs, makes room outside leg and cuts this short delivery past extra cover for a couple

29.5

Tikolo to Younis Khan, 1 run, made space again, but this time there was no room for the cut, no problem he managed to somehow hit it past the bowler

29.6

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, rolls away in front of square as he looks to steal another single, not this time though

Atif: "Anand, can you identify who is Miandad and who is Salim Malik of these two?"

30.1

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 1 run, worked away off the pads through square leg

30.2

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, shapes for the pull, the ball hurries on and he pushes out to mid on in the end

30.3

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, FOUR, this one is asking to be pulled alright, and he does, going back and tonking it over midwicket and in to the boundary

30.4

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, reverse sweeps a full delivery from off stump, and it is wide enough of backward point for a couple

30.5

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, punched off the back foot, the bowler tries, extra cover tries, but it is left to long off to tidy up

30.6

Ngoche to Younis Khan, no run, flat and hurrying on, whipped to the right of midwicket in a flash

Quaid: "@ Anand! Where are those occasional boundaries??"

31.1

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, leans out and plays this one to midwicket

31.2

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, gets into a complete tangle now, as he looks to work this one to midwicket, but takes it on the body

31.3

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, defended in to the leg side

31.4

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, cannot beat a running midwicket with the back foot punch

31.5

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, tossed up delivery played back to the bowler

31.6

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, driven in the air past extra cover, shouts of 'catch him' but it is safe

32.1

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, goes down on a knee and sweeps this full delivery wide of fine leg, but they'll get only one

32.2

Ngoche to Younis Khan, no run, makes room for the cut, but this one is not short enough and he adjusts to play it to point

32.3

Ngoche to Younis Khan, 1 run, flicked away through square leg off the pads

32.4

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, played out to midwicket off the back foot

32.5

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, Ngoche gets in the way of the back foot punch down the ground and saves the single

32.6

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, he tries it again, but this time the drive to long off is too quick for his dive

puneet: "actually i dont get the point... why people compare the current players with the former player of their respective teams?" Just like that, you know

Pakistan are building up nicely to a big total. As Sriram Veera says, they play cricket the 80s way, build, build, and explode

vish: "Seems to be strategy of all teams to (try to!!) preserve wickets against associate countries."

Owais: "@Quaid those are occasional boundaries..let occasion came it will also follow."

33.1

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, worked away through square leg, and Pakistan are away after drinks

33.2

Tikolo to Younis Khan, no run, lunges out but plays this one out to midwicket

33.3

Tikolo to Younis Khan, 2 runs, goes for a full-blooded sweep this time, and it goes on the bounce to deep square leg who misfields, and Younis Khan has gone to 50

33.4

Tikolo to Younis Khan, OUT, Younis goes for the review, he was struck on the pads as he went for another sweep, Tikolo asked the question twice, umpire Llong gave him out after a lot of thought and replays show the ball hitting the leg stump, Pakistan lose a review, and Younis has to walk back, one more well-set batsman falls at the wrong time for Pakistan

Younis Khan lbw b Tikolo 50 (112m 67b 2x4 0x6) SR: 74.62

Umar Akmal comes in now

33.5

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, no run, goes forward and plays this one with the turn to square leg

33.6

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, 2 runs, Umar is away, rocks back and cuts this one away past extra cover

Ravikanth: "@puneet: because wecan't compare them with future cricketers;)" Odoyo is back meanwhile

Syed Sabir Shah: "It will suit Pakistan if they promote Razzak up in the order to open the innings as he plays with a straight bat, new ball is not moving as much in sub continent and historically Razzak is more comfortable fast bowlers!!! "

34.1

Odoyo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 wides, and with the keeper standing up, he bowls this one two feet down the legside, and the ball runs away fine in to the boundary

Ouma has wisely gone back now

34.1

Odoyo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, as if on cue, Odoyo pitches this one in the corridor outside off stump, and it is left alone

34.2

Odoyo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 wides, no, no, he has not taken any cue, another one sprayed wildly down leg, Ouma had no chance even from his position standing back

34.2

Odoyo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, oops, Odoyo is giving Ouma a torrid time, this one rolls away outside the off stump to him, and he takes it with some discomfort

34.3

Odoyo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, short of a good length, but leg side again, worked away to fine leg gleefully

34.4

Odoyo to Umar Akmal, no run, gives him the short one, he tries to get on top of it and pull it but hits it to mid on on the end

34.5

Odoyo to Umar Akmal, 2 runs, good running from Umar, he worked this one in front of fine leg and set off, Misbah was hesitant but two was always on Umar's mind

34.6

Odoyo to Umar Akmal, no run, yikes, this one dies under Umar's attempted cut which then turned into a flail as he saw the ball hardly bouncing but it still went under his bat

35.1

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, i have lost count of the number of times Misbah has played the reverse sweep today, he connects nicely again, and gets it past backward point, takes it from a very full length from off stump

35.2

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, lifts this one in the air but safely over midwicket, hugely optimistic shouts of 'catch it'

35.3

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, flights this one up, but he waits on it and drives it to long off in the end

35.4

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, no run, defended in to the on side

35.5

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, 1 run, goes back in the crease and guides this one backward of point

35.6

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, nicely driven down to long on, high elbow and all the jazz

Kamande is back

36.1

Kamande to Misbah-ul-Haq, 4 wides, sprayed wide down the leg side, Ouma is having a torrid time

36.1

Kamande to Umar Akmal, no run, played out to point off the back foot

36.2

Kamande to Umar Akmal, 1 run, steered very late off the back foot towards short third man

36.3

Kamande to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, plays this tossed up delivery with the turn, but cannot get it past midwicket

36.4

Kamande to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, turning down the pads, whipped past backward square leg

36.5

Kamande to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, stays on the back foot, and punches this shortish ball down to long on

36.6

Kamande to Umar Akmal, 1 run, gets well forward to ping long off with the drive

37.1

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, FOUR, slapped away off the back foot, just got some width, went back in a flash, and got the shot in the gap

37.2

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, no run, eagerly gets forward and turns this one to midwicket

37.3

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, 1 run, tapped with soft hands behind the wickets on the off side, and they go through for the run

37.4

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, eased past square leg off the front foot

37.5

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, no run, gets forward and defends down the track

37.6

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, 1 run, another tap-and-run in to the off side, good running, Misbah was off the blocks quickly

38.1

Kamande to Umar Akmal, 1 run, pulled away, it was not short enough, but he latched on to it in a flash and got it past midwicket

38.2

Kamande to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, he keeps playing the reverse sweep, this ball was a touch short, he let it come on and got it past short third man

38.3

Kamande to Umar Akmal, FOUR, take that! Umar is so quick to pick on anything marginally short, thumps this one high and in to the gap between long on and deep midwicket, both of whom had no chance

38.4

Kamande to Umar Akmal, 1 run, another single brings Misbah on strike

38.5

Kamande to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, pushed to long off for a run

38.6

Kamande to Umar Akmal, no run, stretches forward but he bowls it flat and quick, and he has to block it on the off side

39.1

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, the Kenyans are getting a bit ragged on the field as midwicket lets through a single

39.2

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, no run, played back to the bowler

39.3

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, 1 run, plays a cute late dab to short third man, the single was on, but was amde easier by the fact that there was another misfield

39.4

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, goes for another reverse sweep, by the time he looked down the track, Umar was rushing across and he sent him back hastily

39.5

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, slow tossed up delivery, played out in to the on side

39.6

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, whips this one away off the pads

Kenya continue with spin

40.1

Ngoche to Umar Akmal, 1 run, flat delivery, he eases it down the ground to long off

40.2

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, the sweep again, this time the conventional one, takes it from middle and gets it behind square leg

40.3

Ngoche to Umar Akmal, 1 run, high full toss, he comes down charging down at it, but swings it away to sweeper cover

40.4

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, misses out on a sweep this time and is struck high on the pads

40.5

Ngoche to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, one more full toss, but Misbah finds deep midwicket this time

40.6

Ngoche to Umar Akmal, 1 run, gets forward and meets the ball with a straight bat and sends it purring down to long off

41.1

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, 1 run, goes back and throws everything in to the pull shot, but finds deep midwicket and is not pleased with that

41.2

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, kept low, on the stumps too, he adjusted to push it in to the leg side

41.3

Tikolo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, smashed down to long off, he'll get only a single for all that effort

41.4

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, no run, they go upstairs to find out whether Umar had dragged his foot outside the crease as he was beaten on an attempted drive, but even as Ouma whipped off the bails, Umar's foot never left the crease, and he is absolutely safe

41.5

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, no run, slow delivery turning even more slowly, he blocks it off the front foot

41.6

Tikolo to Umar Akmal, no run, no pace to work with at all, Umar plays out this one in to the off side

Ahmed: "Time for batting powerplay !!" Not yet, not yet. Collins Obuya gets a bowl finally for some leg spin

42.1

Obuya to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, goes back and slaps it away to sweeper cover to bring up an efficient half-century

42.2

Obuya to Umar Akmal, no run, Umar gets away with this, he was beaten in the flight and was way outside the crease, but Ouma messed up the stumping and Umar survives

42.3

Obuya to Umar Akmal, 1 run, gets to the pitch of this flighted one and drives it to long off

42.4

Obuya to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, played down to long off

42.5

Obuya to Umar Akmal, no run, cannot get another tossed up delivery past the bowler, courageous stuff from Obuya at this stage of the innings

42.6

Obuya to Umar Akmal, 2 runs, gives him a full toss and he hammers it wide of sweeper cover for a couple

Now it's time for the batting Powerplay.

43.1

Odhiambo to Umar Akmal, 1 run, full delivery on the pads, spirited away to deep square leg

43.2

Odhiambo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, gets a full delivery, makes some room outside leg stump, and drives it through covers, the ball stopped inside the boundary, and Umar did not want the third

43.3

Odhiambo to Misbah-ul-Haq, SIX, good start to the Powerplay, backed away a shade outside leg the bowler followed him, but he adjusted to pull it all the way over square leg, got the connection absolutely at the right moment

43.4

Odhiambo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, nice response from the bowler, right in the blockhole, dug out down the track

43.5

Odhiambo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 2 runs, walks across and outside off stump to whip a full delivery past square leg

43.6

Odhiambo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, he made some more room again, but Odhiambo followed with a smart slower one, and he hit it in the air in the end, but it dropped well short of extra cover

44.1

Otieno to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, he is getting a little predictable with that backing away outside leg stuff, the bowler followed him, and fired one in the blockhole, it is dug out in to the off side

44.2

Otieno to Umar Akmal, FOUR, effective from Umar, planted the front foot outside off, bent the knee and lapped the full toss over short fine leg

44.3

Otieno to Umar Akmal, FOUR, another boundary, gets a short one outside off stump, waits for an instant to get the cut in the gap between point and cover

44.4

Otieno to Umar Akmal, FOUR, poor bowling this is, high full toss outside off stump, and bashed away over extra cover, flat-batted, and it went fast and flat

44.5

Otieno to Umar Akmal, 2 runs, this is superb batting from Umar, he had backed away far outside leg, was surprised initially with the slower one that tucked him up, but played a late steer past short third man

44.6

Otieno to Umar Akmal, (no ball) FOUR, Otieno has lost it completely, serves up a very high full toss way outside off stump, and it is clattered over the infield effortlessly

44.6

Otieno to Umar Akmal, no run, misses out on one, it was a fullish one around off stump, he made room and got bat to ball, but found the bowler in the way

45.1

Odhiambo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, now that is what is a stolen single, Misbah was tucked up with a yorker, had no clue where the ball went, but Umar hustled him in to the single, and got there just in time even as Odhiambo reached the ball

45.2

Odhiambo to Umar Akmal, FOUR, umar gets to his 50 in quick time with another deft shot, waited on the ball before cutting it backward of point for a boundary

45.3

Odhiambo to Umar Akmal, 1 run, gets the front leg out of the way, and smashes a full delivery down to long on, that will be the 100 of the stand, in 72 balls

45.4

Odhiambo to Misbah-ul-Haq, 1 run, murders a full toss on middle and leg, but straight to deep midwicket

45.5

Odhiambo to Umar Akmal, 1 leg bye, shapes up for the fine lap shot past fine leg from outside off stump, but it is too full and he cannot get it away

45.6

Odhiambo to Misbah-ul-Haq, no run, goes down on one knee after backing away way down the leg side, and slogs this full delivery towards midwicket off the bottom half of the bat, shades of the Misbah of old

Ahsan: "4 half centuries in an innings. Record for the WC.." Indeed is

46.1

Kamande to Umar Akmal, 2 runs, tucks him up with a full delivery outside leg as he made room but he still got it down to long on who lost the ball initially which allowed them to sneak two

46.2

Kamande to Umar Akmal, FOUR, hares down the track, and swings hard, it helps during these late stages, the outside edge goes wide of short third man who runs it all the way to the boundary in the end

46.3

Kamande to Umar Akmal, SIX, what a shot! made some room outside leg, got to the pitch of a tossed up ball, and lifted it cleanly over extra cover, so cleanly that it carries all the way

46.4

Kamande to Umar Akmal, 1 leg bye, comes down the track, is hit on the pads, but they still steal a single

46.5

Kamande to Misbah-ul-Haq, 3 wides, how many of those have Kenya gifted away? it was a poor delivery way down the leg side, and short fine leg had to give it a long chase to pull it back

46.5

Kamande to Misbah-ul-Haq, OUT, Misbah goes this time, swinging a full delivery straight to long on, the boundaries here are very long and he picked out the man almost to perfection, well, he's put Pakistan in a strong position though

Misbah-ul-Haq c Otieno b Kamande 65 (92m 69b 1x4 2x6) SR: 94.20

Afridi strides out to loud cheers

46.6

Kamande to Shahid Afridi, 1 wide, yet another wayward one down the leg side

46.6

Kamande to Shahid Afridi, FOUR, Boom Boom is away, gets one full and in his slot as he backs away outside leg, and lifts it straight down the ground, bounces just inside the boundary

47.1

Otieno to Umar Akmal, 2 runs, another full delivery lifted straight down the ground, they keep backing away, and even as the bowlers try to cramp them for room, they keep connecting

47.2

Otieno to Umar Akmal, 1 run, whipped away to deep square leg off the pads

47.3

Otieno to Shahid Afridi, 1 run, gets a high full toss, and no violence from the marauder, just uses the wrists to turn it to short fine leg

47.4

Otieno to Umar Akmal, 2 runs, another one down the leg side, lifted over square leg, they take two even as Odoyo lets rip with the throw, and holds his arm immediately

47.5

Otieno to Umar Akmal, 1 run, pinches a single with a push into the off side

47.6

Otieno to Shahid Afridi, 2 runs, looks to go downtown, but sees the ball is shortish and calmly pushes it in to the vacant midwicket area, and they actually trot through for a couple, one of the calmest twos ever I tell you

Odoyo comes on now

48.1

Odoyo to Umar Akmal, 2 runs, slashes a full delivery wide of sweeper cover

48.2

Odoyo to Umar Akmal, OUT, picks out long on, it was the slower one, he got too much underneath the ball, but still went through with the shot, and managed to find long on in the end, what a knock though

Umar Akmal c Obuya b Odoyo 71 (66m 52b 8x4 1x6) SR: 136.53

48.3

Odoyo to Shahid Afridi, OUT, whoops this one looked very close, it was very full too, and rapped him on the pads as he swung across the line from the crease, Odoyo's confident appeal was turned down initially, Kenya go for the referral, that is hitting middle of middle, and he will have to walk back

Shahid Afridi lbw b Odoyo 7 (12m 4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 175.00

48.4

Odoyo to Abdur Rehman, 5 wides, if that is the hattrick ball, it certainly wasnt going to get him one, it was sprayed wide down the leg side, and Ouma had no chance standing up to the stumps

48.4

Odoyo to Abdur Rehman, 1 run, full and going across the left-hander, driven hard to extra cover on the edge of the circe

48.5

Odoyo to Abdul Razzaq, 1 run, keeping it very full, Razzaq goes down on a knee and drives it down to sweeper cover

Odoyo goes round the wicket now

48.6

Odoyo to Abdur Rehman, 4 wides, and with that angle the ball goes down the leg side again, just stopped inside the ropes

48.6

Odoyo to Abdul Razzaq, 1 run, short and wide, the over ends now finally, with a slap to sweeper cover off the back foot

Extras is ten short of a half-century. Staggering

49.1

Odhiambo to Abdul Razzaq, 1 run, makes some room outside leg and drives a full delivery to midwicket

49.2

Odhiambo to Abdur Rehman, 5 wides, you know that, extra could have a half-century of its own as well, another horrible delivery wide down leg, and runs away for loads of wides

49.2

Odhiambo to Abdur Rehman, 1 run, gives it the good old thump from outside leg stump, and it falls well short of long on

49.3

Odhiambo to Abdul Razzaq, 1 run, cannot get the full toss past point, it was timed sweetly but straight to that man

49.4

Odhiambo to Abdur Rehman, 3 runs, slower one, but short enough for him to pull it past midwicket, long on does well in the end to stop it with a slide

49.5

Odhiambo to Abdul Razzaq, FOUR, Razzaq launches into a dismissive pull over midwicket, and sends the ball speeding in to the boundary

49.6

Odhiambo to Abdul Razzaq, 1 wide, ouch, a high bouncer, too high in fact, Kenya's woes have overflowed

49.6

Odhiambo to Abdul Razzaq, no run, finishes off with one that rolls away to the keeper past off stump, Razzaq misses out on it, but Pakistan have played it their way in this innings, and it has served them so well

Though the openers fell cheaply, the middle order made four half-centuries, Kenya were woefully wayward, with 46 extras, and Pakistan have surged to 317. Kenya were under fire for most of the innings, and will face some more fire from Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul after the break.

While the players take a break, you can rate their performance through our Player Rater