9.15am
CAPE TOWN - Saurav Ganguly hit an invaluable captain's century to guide a nervous India to a six-wicket victory over Kenya in the World Cup Super Sixes.
Ganguly stroked his way to 107 not out, his 21st one-day century, sharing an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 118 with fellow left-hander Yuvraj Singh
as India, chasing Kenya's 225 for six, won with 13 balls to spare this morning.
Singh once again showed maturity under severe pressure to make 58 off 64 balls.
The victory gave India 12 points while Kenya remained on 10, with two Super Six matches each left.
Kenya, having won the toss and opted to bat first in the day-nighter, raised hopes of a major upset under the lights when seamer Martin Suji removed Sachin Tendulkar during an inspired opening spell in tandem with Thomas Odoyo, reducing India to 24 for three after 10 overs.
"We were in a bit of trouble with three wickets down," Ganguly said. "I thought Yuvraj played a blinder."
Tendulkar, the leading run-getter in the tournament, made five before flicking a short ball to square leg where Tony Suji took a sharp catch to his right.
Odoyo then drew Virender Sehwag (three) into edging a drive to second slip and Steve Tikolo in the second over, before trapping Mohammad Kaif (five) leg before.
Leg-spinner Collins Obuya then had Rahul Dravid caught and bowled for 32 to make it 108 for four in the 30th over.
But Ganguly kept up the chase under pressure, hitting 11 fours and two sixes in his 120-ball knock.
Opener Kennedy Otieno's chancy 79 had formed the basis of the Kenyan effort.
Otieno struck his eighth one-day 50 and shared in two important partnerships, 75 with fellow opener Ravindu Shah (34) and 76 for the third wicket with the promoted Thomas Odoyo, who made 32.
They thrived on sloppy fielding and catching by the Indians to set up a decent total.
Both Otieno and Shah were dropped once each soon after reaching double figures while Harbhajan Singh at square leg failed to catch two mis-hits by Otieno.
Otieno was eventually bowled by a well pitched-up off-break from Harbhajan. He hit two huge sixes and six fours in his 134-ball effort.
"We didn't do a good job in the field but that happens. We will have to get our intensity back," Ganguly said.
- REUTERS
KENYA V INDIA SCOREBOARD:
Kenya:
K.Otieno b Harbhajan Singh 79
R.Shah run out 34
S.Tikolo c Khan b Harbhajan Singh 3
T.Odoyo lbw b Mongia 32
M.Odumbe not out 34
C.Obuya c Mongia b Srinath 8
P.Ongondo c Tendulkar b Srinath 8
M.Suji not out 11
Extras (b-4, lb-8, w-4) 16
Total (for six wickets, 50 overs) 225
Fall of wickets: 1-75 2-81 3-157 4-165 5-191 6-206
Did not bat: Brijal Patel, Hitesh Modi, Tony Suji.
Bowling: Khan 10-1-53-0 (w-2), Srinath 10-0-43-2 (w-1), Nehra 10-2-30-0 (w-1), Harbhajan Singh 10-0-41-2, Mongia 8-0-37-1, Yuvraj Singh 2-0-9-0
India:
V.Sehwag c Tikolo b Odoyo 3
S.Tendulkar c T.Suji b M.Suji 5
S.Ganguly not out 107
M.Kaif lbw b Odoyo 5
R.Dravid c & b Obuya 32
Y.Singh not out 58
Extras (lb-5, w-8, nb-3) 16
Total (for four wickets, 47.5 overs) 226
Fall of wickets: 1-5 2-11 3-23 4-108
Did not bat: Dinesh Mongia, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra.
Bowling: M.Suji 10-3-27-1, Odoyo 7-0-27-2 (nb-1), Ongondo 5-0-31-0 (w-1), A.Suji 7-0-25-0 (nb-1), Obuya 9.5-2-50-1 (nb-1,w-3), Odumbe 3-0-25-0, Tikolo 6-0-36-0
Result: India won by six wickets.
World Cup schedule
Points table
Cricket: Ganguly steers India to victory
9.15am
CAPE TOWN - Saurav Ganguly hit an invaluable captain's century to guide a nervous India to a six-wicket victory over Kenya in the World Cup Super Sixes.
Ganguly stroked his way to 107 not out, his 21st one-day century, sharing an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 118 with fellow left-hander Yuvraj Singh
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
