Canada v Kenya, Group A, World Cup 2011, Delhi

Mishra and Odoyo lift Kenya to 198

Tanmay Mishra

Jimmy Kamande, the Kenya captain, had set his batsmen the modest target of playing out 50 overs after they were swept aside cheaply in each of their three previous matches in the World Cup, a goal they just about achieved through gutsy half-centuries from Tanmay Mishra and Thomas Odoyo. That had seemed unlikely when Canada's quick bowler Henry Osinde ripped through the top order to leave Kenya gasping at 57 for 5 after 15 overs, but Mishra patched together two reviving stands with Kamande and Odoyo to steer them to their best batting performance of the tournament.

It was a slow pitch at Feroz Shah Kotla though it wasn't as tough a track to bat on as the Kenyans made it seem early on. Osinde was getting the ball to swerve a touch at the start, and that provided him with a wicket off the second delivery of the match, when Maurice Ouma was drawn towards the ball and edged it to slip as he belatedly tried to leave. Seren Waters, the promising opener, was next to go, playing down the wrong line to be bowled for 2. David Obuya became Osinde's third victim, nicking to the keeper as Kenya slid to 21 for 3.

Collins Obuya was the most confident batsman early on, unafraid to loft the ball over the infield as he crashed a six and a four in 20-year-old Parth Desai's first over on World Cup debut to sprint to 27 off 24, when the rest of side had managed only four off 23 deliveries. With the most experienced player in the side, Steve Tikolo, assisting him, a recovery started but that ended with a horrible attempted swipe from Obuya, missing the ball to be bowled.

There was more trouble for Kenya when Tikolo was adjudged lbw on review, though the replays suggested there was an inside edge. From 57 for 5, though, Kamande and Tanmay Mishra then led the resistance, keeping out the easier offerings of Jimmy Hansra and Rizwan Cheema. Just as the partnership started to gather momentum, the legspinner Balaji Rao struck, getting Kamande caught-behind.

Mishra continued to grind it out, holding the innings together with a series of singles - 33 of his 51 runs were singles. He was at the crease as early as the 12th over, but it wasn't till as late as the 42nd that he reached his half-century. Odoyo was far more aggressive, launching the ball through the off side or down the ground whenever it was pitched up. There was some panicky running, but the Canadian fielding was never sharp enough to capitalise.

The pair added 57 before Mishra perished in the 43rd over; Kenya missing a trick by not choosing the batting Powerplay when the two were together. That meant there was no big flourish at the death, and Kenya were bowled out on the final delivery by an inch-perfect yorker from Baidwan.