Pacific Nations Cruising

Australia and New Zealand cruised to wins, despite allowing their opponents to have their day out with the bat.

For Australia, Watson, Haddin and Ponting got things underway with their customary solid start, leaving Clarke and Hussey to add a century stand and press the accellerator pedal. Clarke was very, very good and with Hussey making his dubious but much planned debut at this World Cup after the excess baggage of Doug Bollinger was sent home, Australia made a wall too huge for Kenya to scale. The batsmen did no more than their job for an Australian side which ruthlessly goes about its business, wanting no repeats of its long game disappointments inthe last home summer. It was a big score but Kenya's bowlers weren't very good, so in reality, this was a controlled innings.

To Kenya's credit, they batted well after a great opening spell by Brett Lee, who continues to be the class act of this Australian bowling line up. Tait gets wickets, especially at the death, where he spears in yorkers at 150km/h which tail in from the off. While ever he can do that, Ponting won't quibble about him going at six runs an over. Krejza is the other trump and has been all along, extracting big turn at times from his off spinners. If Australia are to stay unbeaten and topple either South Africa or India, Krejza will be the crucial man. Not much could be said of the others as they bowled poorly. Johnson for all his early wickets in this tournament, doesn't impress and Ponting looks to be three bowlers short - a deficiency which won't be found out until Australia rubs up against the top sides.

Due credit to Mishra and Obuya who added 115 against the No 1 side in the world and at a time when their own side was house of cards on a nasty lean. Both struck the ball cleanly, with Mishra looking more like a batsman. That Australian ruthlessness was never more evident as Ponting closed Obuya down in the last four overs to prevent him becoming the 4th Kenyan to score a ODI hundred. Steve Tikilo, the 39 year old veteran and scorer of the most ODI hundreds for Kenya, sat watching in the stands for the first time at a World Cup. Until last night, Tikilo had played in ever Kenyan World Cup game, dating back to a debut against India in 1996.

Meanwhile, at Mumbai, all of the New Zealanders - minus Dan Vettori - got runs in massive total against Canada. Only John Davison contained the Black Caps as Brendan McCullum finally fired and Ross Taylor again showed leadership suits him with five 6's in a 60 ball innings of 74. Canada made good runs in much the same mold as Kenya, as New Zealand used 8 bowlers. Bagai and Hansra bated well again, adding 125 mid innings and Canada had the distinction of not being bowled out. For New Zealand, Oram's form was pleasing but they may be struck with yet another bowling injury after Kyle Mills limped off during his third over with the new ball, immediately after taking his second wicket.