Close Pakistan 181 for 3 (Younis Khan 87*, Misbah-ul-Haq 50*) beat Kenya 179 (K Obuya 59) by seven wickets
scorecard

Pakistan brushed aside any lingering self-doubts that remained from their record 224-run thrashing at the hands of Australia, but Kenya nevertheless acquitted themselves well in a seven-wicket defeat at Nairobi.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first under grey skies, Kenya mustered a total of 179 – decent under the circumstances, given the quality of the bowling attack they were up against. Shoaib Akhtar troubled all the batsmen with his express pace, and grabbed a wicket with his seventh delivery on the way to figures of 2 for 17 from eight overs. Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram also chipped in with two wickets apiece, and only the opener Kennedy Obuya, who top-scored with 59, looked fully settled – his partnership of 61 for the third wicket with Thomas Odoyo (28) was the best of the innings.

Pakistan needed less than four runs an over for victory – but for the third match in a row they began in faltering fashion as Shoaib Malik and the out-of-sorts Saeed Anwar fell to the new ball with just 13 runs on the board. When Shahid Afridi fell shortly afterwards, for a typically belligerent 31 from 28 balls, Pakistan were 54 for 3 in the 12th over, and déjà vu beckoned. In their first match against Kenya, they had slumped to 97 for 6 chasing 133.

But Younis Khan found an able ally in the debutant Misbah-ul-Haq, and together they added an unbeaten 127 to carry Pakistan to victory with a healthy 11 overs to spare. Younis made most of the running in his 87, smacking 11 fours and a six in 91 balls, while Misbah was more circumspect, reaching his 50 in the final over of the run-chase.

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