[luckyeddie]

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24 February, Kenya v Sri Lanka, Nairobi

Ravindu Shah (Kenya)

A single on the board, the Kenyan opener faces his first ball from Chaminda Vaas, one of the players of the tournament so far. The Kenyans have looked a little brittle throughout this tournament, so obviously a steady start was needed. The big inswinger (come on Chaminda, you're getting very predictable), the all-too familiar rap on the pad, the dreaded finger.
DD rating - 3 lilypads (ho hum)

Breadcrumb moment - Kennedy Otieno Obuya (Kenya)

The compact opener surveys the scene, determined to go down fighting. Eyeing up the leg side at the start of the seventh over, he proceeds to dump Chaminda Vaas into the crowd. Four overs later, same combination, same result. Just a different grandstand to hit the ball into. The Kenyans have been watching the Canadians. Twentieth over, Otieno nudges Murali for a single. His fifty has taken a creditable 65 balls against one of the more potent attacks in the World Cup. When Murali eventually pouches a catch at square leg to dismiss him for 60, the Kenyans have made 112-4. They go on to make 210-9. Surely the Sri Lankans would have little trouble with such a modest total against a fairly toothless attack?

Breadcrumb moment - Collins Obuya (Kenya)

There's not much pace in the wicket. The Kenyan spinners are bowling line and length, forcing the Sri Lankans to put the pace on the ball themselves. Obuyas best figures in ODIs are a modest 2-46 against Canada, so the 21-year-old leggie is hardly going to offer much of a problem to the former world champions, is he? Well, we reckon without the most powerful weapon in cricket - the self-destruct button. The Sri Lankan thumbs have been super-glued to it.
For instance : Obuya to Tillakaratne. Good length ball, heaved to deep midwicket where Tony Suji takes a good catch on the boundary. Careful - there's no pace in the wicket. Obuya 1-4
And then there's : Obuya to Jayawardene. Full toss, the batsman plays about a week too early and only succeeds in prodding the ball back to the bowler off the leading edge. You know, there's not much pace in the wicket. Obuya 2-12
Followed shortly by : Obuya to Sangakkara. Good length ball, another inconspicuous smear to leg. This time, wicket keeper Otieno charges forward, dives and takes a great catch. These things happen when there's not much pace in the wicket. Obuya 3-17
Later still : Obuya to Aravinda de Silva. Short, turning back into the batsman. Far too close to cut, so he cuts anyway. A feather and Otieno takes the catch. Such a shame that there's not much pace in the wicket. Obuya 4-18
And finally : Obuya to Chaminda Vaas. Tossed up, held back, the batsman, trapped like a rabbit in the headlights, goes through with his premeditated drive, but he doesn't realise that there's not much pace in the wicket - nobody told him. Obuya 5-23 (finishes 5-24)