They put on 72 in just 10.2 overs, and their sixth-wicket stand freed Pakistan from the shackles of a nagging Kenyan attack that stuck to their successful World Cup formula: employ a single-saving field, take the pace off the ball, bowl straight and play on the batsman's patience.

It worked initially, before Malik once again proved his potential with the bat, whereupon the Kenyan bowling fell apart. The last ten overs went for 108, with 21 of them in the 49th alone.

Malik's mayhem seemed unlikely after the top order all fell trying to increase the tempo. Misbah-ul-Haq looked the specialist batsman most likely to convert a good start. But he perished for 42, controversially caught by Brijal Patel on the long-on fence. It could have been Misbah's second six instead of Pakistan's fifth wicket - there was some doubt about whether Patel's boot touched the rope. But the umpire, India's AV Jayaprakash, preferred to take the word of the fielder and did not ask the third umpire ... another update in the ongoing Trust Humans v Trust Technology debate.

That curious decision, and Jimmy Kamande's cartwheels across the pitch to celebrate wickets, were about the only highlights before Malik's onslaught. But Kamande didn't cartwheel when he dropped the rampaging Malik on the midwicket boundary late on. Angara was the aggrieved bowler, and his over went for 17 runs.

A final total of 286 seemed far away after Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar started Pakistan's innings quietly. They put on 45 for the first wicket before the left-handed Umar (17) ambitiously drove across the line at Angara and dragged the ball into his stumps.

Hafeez (36) was the next to go at 63, nicking Ongondo to Kennedy Obuya behind the stumps and walking straight off. Faisal Iqbal, Javed Miandad's talented nephew, was joined by Misbah, who showed the newly introduced Collins Obuya just who was boss. He clouted two fours and a huge six before Obuya got his revenge. Iqbal (23) mistimed a drive, and the leading edge was snaffled by Maurice Odumbe at cover (102 for 3).

Yousuf Youhana (18) became the fourth top-order man to miss out on the planned run-feast, when he missed a straight one from Steve Tikolo. He surveyed his disturbed stumps with hand on hip (129 for 4).

But Pakistan's tail once again revealed a deadly sting with the bat. Kenya will have their work cut out chasing 287, even if the match is an inconsequential one - Pakistan already know they will be facing Zimbabwe in the final on Thursday.

Thomas Odoyo and Peter Ongondo kept the Pakistani openers on a leash, as the first ten overs produced only 27 runs. The first boundary came in the sixth over, when Mohammad Hafeez airily swatted Ongondo to the midwicket fence.

Hafeez, a fidgety character, played straight most of the time and favoured the on side for his more aggressive shots. He flicked Ongondo for a six in the 12th over, which cost Kenya 14 runs.

The left-hander Taufeeq Umar, batting without a helmet, was more subdued and watchful until he ambitiously drove Joseph Angara across the line and dragged the ball onto his stumps. After making 17 out of 45, he trooped off while the Kenyans introduced another new way of celebrating the fall of a wicket: Joseph Kamande cartwheeled across the pitch, much to the delight of the few dozen spectators.

Hafeez fell in the 17th over, nicking Ongondo to Kennedy Obuya behind the stumps and walking straight away (63 for 2). He made 36, but looked good for more.

Faisal Iqbal was joined by the equally talented Misbah-ul-Haq, who looked to dominate Collins Obuya when the leg-spinner entered the attack. Misbah used his feet to thump Obuya for two fours and a straight six. They took the score to 102, before Iqbal (23) mistimed a drive off Obuya, with the leading edge snaffled by Maurice Odumbe at cover (102 for 3) from the first ball of the 26th over of the innings in a match which is almost inconsequential. Pakistan already know they will be meeting Zimbabwe in Thursday's final.

Steve Tikolo made two changes, resting Tony Suji and replacing Alfred Luseno by bringing in Joseph Angara and Jimmy Kamande. The match will be a good test of mental strength for Kenya who, after their World Cup heroics, face a sobering third successive setback in this tournament.

Pakistan head the points table, yet none of their players make the top three of individual batting and bowling rankings for the series. It's gentle proof of a new-look team benefiting from a team effort.

Youngsters like Umar Gul have shown promise. Old pros Youhana, Abdul Razzaq, and Younis have delivered. And under Rashid Latif, Pakistan have shown more purpose, intensity and unity. Only complacency stands between them and holding aloft the Sharjah Cup on April 10. How they approach today's inconsequential match will reveal the degree of that risk.

Teams
Pakistan 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Taufeeq Umar, 3 Mishbah-ul-Haq, 4 Faisal Iqbal, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Rashid Latif (capt, wk), 7 Yousuf Youhana, 8 Naved-ul-Hasan, 9 Danish Kaneria, 10 Mohammad Sami, 11 Umar Gul.

Kenya 1 Kennedy Obuya (wk), 2 David Obuya, 3 Brijal Patel, 4 Steve Tikolo (capt), 5 Thomas Odoyo, 6 Maurice Odumbe, 7 Hitesh Modi, 8 Peter Ongondo, 9 Collins Obuya, 10 Joseph Angara 11 Jimmy Kamande.

Raja M is a frequent contributor to Wisden.com in India.