Hambantota, Sri Lanka: The Akmal brothers have ruined a Kenyan party by sending back Seren Waters and Maurice Ouma, who were giving a slow but steady start to the Kenya’s 317 chase at the Mahinda Rajapakse Stadium on Wednesday.
Waters and Ouma kept their cool against Shoaib Akhtar but went behind Abdul Razzaq to steal runs. No wonder then, it needed a run out to break the 37-run opening wicket partnership. Umar Akmal scored a direct hit to send Waters back to the pavlion and Umar Gul found the edge of Ouma, which landed safe in Kamran’s hands.
With two new batsmen, Steve Tikolo and Collins Obuya, out in the middle and required run rate mounting above eight runs per over, Kenya looks in deep trouble here.
Umar Akmal was one of four batsmen to scored half-centuries to help Pakistan overcame a sluggish start to post 317-7 against Kenya in their opening match here.