The home team has traditionally done well in World Cricket League tournaments, and Malaysia started this one in the best possible fashion, winning by 122 runs over an overwhelmed Tanzania.

Finding your way around Kuala Lumpur can be tricky - the cab drivers don't favour travel to the suburbs, nor have any knowledge of local cricket - and the Kinrara Academy Oval's smooth surface and small pavilion is very much that of a local suburban ground.

Malaysia's batsmen exploited their familiarity with the conditions perfectly. After an early wicket, Nasir Shafiq and Ahmed Faiz lay the foundation for a big score with 68 and 78 respectively, taking the total to 187-3 when Shafiq Sharif joined Suhan Alagaratnam at the crease; and importantly as Benson Nyakini (2/42) completed his second last over.

Tanzania are a youthful side with lean builds bordering on skinny, and spinners who lack the pace or height to trouble good batsmen. They were fodder for Malaysia's keeper, Shafiq Sharif with his stocky, powerful build, broad smile and easy swing. After a cautious start Shafiq took to the Tanzanian bowling in the final 10 overs, launching four sixes and eight fours to make 73 off only 38 balls.

As the temperature increased and Malaysia's score accelerated, Tanzania's fielding became bewildered by the swirling mishits that just cleared the in field, and the proper hits that cleared their out-fielders and the fence. They used seven bowlers in those last ten overs, but found no respite as Malaysia scored 127 runs to get their score up to 318.

If Tanzania were to chase the target they needed a quick start. Instead they found themselves completely shackled by Malaysia's lanky under-17 left-arm orthodox spinner Pavandeep Singh. Already the tallest player on either side coupled with a high arm action, Pavandeep's ability to generate bounce and willingness to mix flight with balls speared into the batsmen tied the Tanzanian batsmen down - just three singles, three boundaries and a two being scored in his first six overs. Although Seif Abdul and Abhik Patwa managed to put on 53 for the second wicket, the required run-rate was almost seven and a half runs per over when they departed.

A clatter of wickets followed. Off-spinner Khizer Hayat Durrani took 3-23, bowling straight through to put the game beyond any doubt before the 30th over. He was well supported by Hassan Ghulam, who generated lively pace to blast through the Tanzanian middle order, eventually finishing with 4-36.

A listless final twenty overs followed. Nassoro batted well in making 49, with a high elbow and sound technique, but he lacked the power to beat the fieldsmen unless he went over the top. He and Rehmtullah (51) put some respectability to the total, adding 98 for the 7th wicket, but Malaysia had, by then, concluded that the job was done, and the fielding lacked intensity.

With four more group matches to play in the next six days, all in high temperatures and humid conditions, an opportunity to preserve some energy might prove valuable in the week to come. The big boost to Malaysia's net run-rate and confidence from their opening day performance will have helped tremendously as well.