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Malinga registers best ODI figures of 6 for 38
Pacer Lasith Malinga made a grand entry into the World Cup by notching up an unprecedented second hat-trick in the mega event as Sri Lanka crushed minnows Kenya by nine wickets in a group A match, in Colombo on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka shot out Kenya for a meagre 142 with Malinga, playing his first match of the tournament, single-handedly destroying Kenya with a career-best six-wicket haul.
Malinga also earned the distinction of becoming the first bowler to take a hat-trick in World Cup for the second time as he first achieved the feat earlier in the 2007 edition against South Africa.
Chasing Kenya's 142 for victory, the hosts overhauled the total in just 18.4 overs.
Malinga accounted for four opposition wickets, including a hat-trick, in a span of 12 balls to bowl out Kenya inside the 150-mark at R Premadasa stadium.
Malinga earned the distinction of becoming the first bowler to take a hat-trick in World Cup for the second time as he first achieved the feat in the 2007 edition against South Africa.
Obuya brothers only bright spot for Kenya
Kenya's lower middle-order spoilt the hardwork put in by Obuya brothers -- Collins (52) and David (51) as they lost their last eight wickets for just 40 runs.
Apart from the Obuya brothers not a single batsmen could come with double digit scores.
Collins and David were the only bright spot in Kenya's dismal batting show with a fighting 92-run third-wicket stand that resurrected their innings after two early blows.
Opting to bat, Kenya found Sri Lankan pace duo of Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara (1/18) too hot to handle as they lost both their openers -- Maurice Ouma and Seren Waters -- for just eight runs.
Kulasekera struck early for the home team, trapping Ouma lbw in the second over with a delivery that moved in after pitching. The batsman went for the review but TV umpire upheld the decision.
Malinga began destruction with Waters's dismissal
Returning to the playing eleven after missing Sri Lanka's first two games due to a back problem, Malinga soon got into the act and trapped Waters in the next over with a lethal indipping yorker that hit the batsman on his toes.
Although Waters did not go for the review, he was perhaps a little unlucky as TV replays later showed the ball was missing leg-stump.
Then came in the Obuya brothers Collins and David -- who displayed tremendous grit and determination to steady Kenya's sinking ship after the dismal start.
The Obuya brothers showed exemplary patience to rescue Kenya with a 92-run partnership that came off 177 balls.
Malinga broke Obuya brothers' partnership
It took another lethal yorker from Malinga to separate the brothers when he cleaned up Collins but not before the right-hander notched up his maiden World Cup half-century that came off 100 balls and was studded with four boundaries.
Veteran Steve Tikolo (7) once again disappointed with the bat as Tillakaratene Dilshan pulled off a blinder at point off Angelo Mathews.
Just like his brother Collins, David too threw away his wicket after doing all the hard work and at a time when Kenya needed him the most. He was caught by Thilan Samaraweera of Muttiah Muralitharan.
Malinga yorkers close Kenyan chapter
Captain Jimmy Kamande did very little to his inspire his team as he was brilliantly run out by a diving Chamara Silva in the next over. And then in the last ball Malinga came up with yet another toe-wrecking yorker to end Tanmay Mishra's struggle at the crease.
Malinga then castled through the defences of Peter Ongondo and Shem Ngoche in the first two deliveries of his next over to register the second hat-trick of this tournament.
West Indies' Kemar Roach was the first to achieve the feat in the tournament against the Netherlands on Monday.
Malinga then cleaned up the Kenyan tail with another perfect yorker which was too hot for last man Elijah Otieno.
Lanka openers fire early
Replying, the hosts cruised to 146 for one in just 18.4 overs with Tillakaratne Dilshan (44), Upul Tharanga (67 unbeaten) and skipper Kumar Sangakkara (27 unbeaten) scoring freely.
Once Malinga has played his part, Sri Lanka knocked the runs off the runs in double quick time, with Tillakaratne Dilshan the only man to fall caught by Ouma off the bowling of Kennedy Otieno. Dilshan's knock came in just 30 deliveries with eight fours to his name.
His opening partner, Upul Tharanga was merciless on the poor Kenyan bowlers. His aggressive 67 was peppered with 12 hits to the boundary.
Lanka make short work of Kenya
Captain Kumar Sangakkara came in at No 3 and ensured that the hosts were home without any further hiccups.
Sangakkara joined forces with Tharanga and meted out the same treatment to the Kenyan bowlers.
He scored a quickfire 27 off 24 deliveries (3 fours).
Tharanga ended the match with a boundary struck over cover to remain unbeaten on 67 and Sangakkara was 27 not out.