Was very disappointed today by Kenya, they were facing a NZ side pretty low on confidence after their recent ODI defeats, yet Kenya just never turned up.
Was personally looking forward to seeing Waters and Obanda at the top, but they were just not allowed to get any momentum into the innings. They looked nervous and very cautious. Waters style means his role is presumably to bat long into the innings and not be overly worried by his strike rate, but he didn't turn the strike over nearly enough, especially against the slow bowling.
Then came the procession of wickets, the majority to full deliveries directed accurately into the stumps. Both Bennett and later in the innings, Southee, getting a hint of reverse into the plethora of right-handers, and more often than not, the Kenyans were just too late on the stroke. Tikolo's ageing eyes and reflexes a prime example. Great picture above by the way.
Selection for NZ will be interesting for Australia when Mills returns, Bennett has certainly made a strong case for his inclusion, but I don't expect too many other sides to find him so unplayable. But he had a gameplan for today and it worked perfectly, credit to him (and AD).
With only 69 on the board it was a hopeless task for Kenya's bowlers, and Guptill treated them with absolute disdain. McCullum tried going hard at them too, but struggled with his timing, seemed a little bit of a two-paced pitch. Guptill was typically sumptuous down the ground, and the job was done in no time. Perfect start for NZ, anymore days like this for Kenya and it may feel like a longer World Cup than it's already elongated schedule suggests it will be.
