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Ganguly Powers India To Win

Friday, March 7 2003

A spirted fight from Kenya, and a wonderful captain's knock by Ganguly under lights, ensured India a victory against the surprise team of the tournament. The venue, was the beautiful Newlands, Cape Town. With Table Mountain as it's beautiful backdrop, and the sun shining, it was all set to be a superb day's cricket.

The pitch looked absolutely superb, it seemed to be very hard, and flat with some good bounce and carry towards the keeper. Any team which won the toss had no hesitation to bat first, and score a large total.

India made just one change to their line-up, which has been quite successful in recent times. Harbhajan Singh came in place of Anil Kumble.

Kenya's Steve Tikolo won the toss and had no hesitation to bat first. An in form Ravindu Shah and an out of form Kennedy Obuya were to open the innings for Kenya. Zaheer and Srinath were the opening bowlers.

The innings got off to a steady start, with Shah and Obuya content on taking singles, and hitting the occasional bad ball for four. Shah played a wonderful Tendulkar like shot, flicking a good ball on middle stump through mid wicket for four.

India, looking for that first vital breakthrough, almost had one in Obuya, as he flashed hard and gave a chance to Dinesh Mongia, only for the catch to be dropped off Ashish Nehra's bowling. Obuya then twice more dropped, and it was perfectly clear that this was going to be Obuya's day.

Obuya gave Shah good support and the two added 75 for the first wicket, before Shah was run out by a good piece of work from Zaheer. Shah out for a good innings of 37 and Kenya were 1/75. Kenya's best player Steve Tikolo came to the crease and soon after was dismissed by Harbhajan, caught by Zaheer for 3 runs.

Obuya and all rounder Thomas Odoyo didn't let the Kenyan's heads drop, as they continued to build a partnership and flay bad balls all around the boundary and over the boundary. Obuya reached his 50 at a crucial stage of the tournament, and Kenya's total looked promising.

Obuya and Odoyo added a valuable 76 to the score, before Obuya was finally dismissed for a well made 79, playing all round a Harbhajan Singh delivery. Odoyo was soon dismissed for 32 off the bowling of part timer Dinesh Mongia, and the Kenyan team were once more under the pump.

As Collins Obuya (8) and Ongondo (8) fell cheaply, aggressive all rounder Maurice Odumbe, blazed away and his valuable knock of 34 in just 24 balls helped Kenya reach to a respectable and challenging total of 225/6. The Indian's were to bat next, but under lights where the ball appears to play a few tricks.

The Little Master and his apprenctice, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag strode out to the crease, but an out of sorts Sehwag fell immediately for just 3 off the bowling of Thomas Odoyo, and the score was 1/5.

India had huge hopes of both Tendulkar and Ganguly scoring heavily, but it was not to be, as the master himself gave his wicket away caught by Tony Suji off Martin Suji's bowling. Tendulkar gone for 5, India 2/11.

Young Mohammad Kaif arrived along with Sourav Ganguly but Kaif gave no support to his captain as he fell for 5, India 3/24 and looking in serious trouble. It was upto "The Wall" Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly to steady the ship and guide India to victory, and possibly a semi-final's berth.

Ganguly looked in supreme touch, under lights which meant hard conditions for batting. Along with the solid and patient Rahul Dravid, Ganguly played his traditional cuts and drives through the off side, and flayed the Kenyan bowling. The two added 84 together and Ganguly reached a superb half century, a real captains knock.

Dravid (32) who had batted so well and so sensibly gave his wicket away as he was caught and bowled by leg spinner Collins Obuya. This led, young in form Yuvraj Singh into the middle. These two had the task of finishing a rather good win against a spirited Kenyan outfit.

Ganguly continued to dominate the bowling, and the flamboyant Yuvraj joined the party as well scoring a run a ball, with those quick singles and those powerful drives that he plays to perfection. Yuvraj Singh brought up his 50 in no time, a fine innings of just 57 balls.

The two added a match-winning 118 run partnership, and Sourav Ganguly reached his 21st century in his ODI career, and his second century in this World Cup. A true captain's knock when the chips were down for India. Ganguly and Yuvraj guiding India to a great 6 wicket win.

The Kenyan's were terrific, they played with superb spirit, intensity and had a clear goal of what they wanted to achieve. Even though they finished up on the losing side, Kenya outplayed India in their fielding, but the spirit of both teams was equal, as Ganguly, Dravid and Yuvraj showed great character to seal the win, and possibly secure a semi-finals berth.


Brief Score Summary:

Kenya: 225/6 (K Obuya 79, R Shah 34, Odumbe 34, Harbhajan 2/41, Srinath 2/43)

India: 226/4 (Ganguly 107*, Yuvraj 58*, Odoyo 2/27, C Obuya 1/50)

Cricket Web Player Of The Match: Sourav Ganguly (IND)



Posted by Sangrah