Bazid and Misbah lead Pakistan A to the finals

Pakistan A 262 for 3 (Bazid 74, Misbah 65*) beat Kenya 260 for 8 (Tikolo 121, Modi 55) by 7 wickets with 7.2 overs to spare
Scorecard

A 97-run third-wicket stand between Bazid Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq ensured that Pakistan A nailed down a competitive target and qualified for the finals - against India A - in the triangular one-day series in Nairobi. Kenya may have felt they had enough runs on the board after Steve Tikolo hit a magnificent 121 to guide them to 260, but Bazid (74) and Misbah (65 not out) led the run-chase as Pakistan A eventually won comfortably, by seven wickets with more than seven overs to spare.

In a match which both teams needed to win to qualify for the finals, Kenya won the toss and, after a wobbly start, got back on track when Tikolo and Hitesh Modi added 130 for the fourth wicket. They came together after Kenya had slumped to 59 for 3, losing Kennedy Otieno, Ravindu Shah and Malhar Patel. Both were eventually run out, and Kenya lost their way somewhat thereafter.

Pakistan's top-order batsmen all got starts. Kamran Akmal (36) and Naved Ashraf (41) got the team off to a fluent start, and while both failed to convert their starts into something more substantial, they had at least ensured against early hiccups. Bazid and Misbah then built on that with a vital partnership in the middle overs, while Faisal Iqbal provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 32, to ensure a fourth encounter against India A, against whom they have lost all three matches in this tournament.