Kenya humbles India

By G. Viswanath

PORT ELIZABETH, OCT. 18. Kenya did the giant-killing act at the St. George's Park on Wednesday night, overcoming a crisis of sorts related to their tour captain Maurice Odumbe and manager Mehmood Qaraishy.

Its 70-run win against India was more remarkable than its first win against the sub-continental rival that was recorded in a day- night match at the Roop Singh Stadium, Gwalior four seasons ago. Then, a couple of big guns, Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar, were missing from the Indian team. Though the Gwalior victory was correctly put down as a historical win for the African nation, it did not have the traces of explosiveness that was evident at the coastal city of South Africa. As Steve Tikolo, temporarily holding fort as captain for Odumbe (banned for two matches because of an ICC regulation) said afterwards: ``I was over the moon.'' It was a comprehensive win for the Kenyans, who for 10 days and more appeared to have left their competitive skills at home.

``I have always been saying that our side is capable of playing well, not just on a particular day, but consistently in a tournament. I have also said please don't write us off. This win tonight should strengthen our team's self-belief.''

All eyes were on the Kenyans, especially seam bowler Joseph Angara, who rose to the occasion like a champion bowler in his first match of the tri-series and carried off the Man-of-the- match award. On hindsight it can be said the Kenyans had made a fantastic move bringing in a specialist bowler in place of an allrounder like Odumbe.

And, the Kenyan new ball attack in the hands of Angara and Martin Suji dictated terms for nearly 10 overs. Sachin Tendulkar, seemed more intent on tightening his defence. Once he was disturbed by movements over the sightscreen. Angara's sixth wicket in one-day Internationals was that of the run machine. Tendulkar made just three runs, before taking a slow and long walk to the dressing room. Tendulkar was truly humbled by a seamer, who at close to the age of 30 is still undergoing apprenticeship in the big league of international cricket.

Angara bowled his first 25 balls to the world's most successful opening pair in limited-over internationals, Ganguly and Tendulkar, without being hit. This was in itself an achievement. After a very effective first spell, he returned to pick up two more wickets, one that confirmed the Kenyans would celebrate on Wednesday night and the second that gave cause for a round of revelry in the middle because Collins Obuya, who practices leg- spin, pulled off a spectacular catch at backward point to send Reetinder Singh Sodhi back.

The leg-spinner, positioned at backward point, had his own sweet revenge. The young sardar had earlier pulled him to the mid- wicket fence twice. Sodhi looked quite threatening, his opening salvo being a big hit off seamer Tony Suji over long-on. Tikolo immediately went back to his best bowler of the evening. Angara brought an end to Jacob Martin's 107-minute tenure and also removed Sodhi. Somehow Collins Obuya reached the ball, with his right hand outstretched, and held it firmly as he came down crashing.

Angara was delighted. ``It was a great feeling to bowl to batsmen like Sachin and Ganguly. I just bowled to a steady line and I got the wickets. I bowled against the wind, that's how I practised the previous day. I am happy I got the wicket of Tendulkar,'' said Angara, whose three for 30 was his best in one- day Internationals.

India lost wickets at regular intervals. Allrounder Thomas Odoyo got three wickets, including the vital one of Ganguly, the ball brushing a part of his body before hitting the leg stump. This was the first ball bowled by Odoyo. Tony Suji played his role picking up two wickets - Rahul Dravid, attempting a wanton shot and edging to the keeper, and Yuveraj Singh, dragging the first ball he faced onto the stumps.

Two wickets off two balls and thereafter Anil Kumble being bowled by Collins Obuya, brought in Harbhajan Singh. He made 37 at No. 9, the highest for India.

For all their extraordinary fielding (Patil had said the other day that the Indians would have to learn a lot from his team), the Kenyans put down a few catches towards the end. ``The wind was a bit strong. I think that was the reason,'' said Tikolo.

The Indian captain, Ganguly, was speechless. The coach appeared to be miffed, too. ``I would like to say, I was surprised by the way we bowled and batted. It's very difficult to find reasons for this loss. They got 246 and we did not build a partnership. It was a good batting surface right through and the lights were not bad. We played poor cricket for nearly 100 overs. It's very difficult to give an explanation for this defeat. They have beaten us and stunned us. They did everything well, they fielded brilliantly,'' said Ganguly, whose two 6s produced a sudden spark, but he and India faded into background in the next couple of hours.

Scoreboard

KENYA: 246 for six in 50 overs

INDIA

S. Ganguly b Odoyo                      24 

(56m, 24b, 1x4, 2x6)
S. R. Tendulkar b Angara                 3
(23m, 20b)
J. Martin b Angara                      36
(108m, 70b, 5x4)
R. Dravid c D. Obuya b T. Suji          11
(26m, 23b, 2x4)
Yuveraj Singh b T. Suji                  0
(1m, 1b)
R. S. Sodhi c C. Obuya b Angara         21
(3x4, 1x6)
D. Dasgupta c K. Obuya b M. Suji        19
(37b, 1x4)
A. Kumble b C. Obuya                     1
(11b)
Harbhajan Singh c Shah b Odoyo          37
(31b, 4x4, 1x6)
V. Prasad (not out)                     10
(26b)
Harvinder Singh b Odoyo                  1
(7b)
Extras (lb-1, nb-4, w-8)                13
                                       ---
Total (in 46.4 overs)                  176
                                       ---

Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Tendulkar), 2-41 (Ganguly), 3-60  (Dravid), 
4-60 (Yuveraj), 5-97 (Sodhi), 6-100 (Martin), 7-103 (Kumble),  8- 
153 (Dasgupta), 9-172 (Harbhajan).

Kenya bowling: M. Suji 10-1-37-1, Angara 10-4-30-3, Odoyo 9.4-41-
3, T. Suji 7-0-35-2, C. Obuya 10-2-32-1.

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