India Survive a Tough Kenyan Test Through the Grace of Captain Ganguly

For 80 overs and more last night the mosquito was biting at the elephant at Newlands as Kenya, no strangers to causing World Cup upsets, gave India a fright before Sourav Ganguly's 21st one-day international century gave his side victory by six wickets and also a place in the semi-finals.

Chasing 226 to win, after Steve Tikolo had won an important toss for Kenya and Kennedy Otieno had contributed a solid 79 of his side's 225 for six, India slumped to 24 for three against a worthy new-ball attack backed by outstanding fielding.

A fourth-wicket stand of 84 between the captain Ganguly and Rahul Dravid redressed the balance, and after Dravid's departure for 32 (unusually pressured first into recklessness and then error despite Ganguly's pleas to stay calm) there was an unbroken stand of 118 for the fifth wicket.

This time it involved the elegant young Yuvraj Singh (58 not out), and with the necessary aggression timed to per fection they saw India home with 13 balls to spare. Ganguly's unbeaten 107 was chiselled from 120 balls with 11 fours and two sixes, and maintains India's tournament momentum at a time when it might have been lost.

In the final analysis it looks a cakewalk. But Yuvraj got away with a possible catch to the wicket when 18 which, if given, would have left his side deep in trouble with a long tail to come. Ganguly himself, woefully out of touch at the start of his innings, had to draw deeply on the well of his resolve to carry his side home.

As he ran the single that took him to his century there was no celebration, rather a long look towards the sky as if giving thanks for deliverance, a deep breath, and only then did he remove his helmet and with arms raised acknowledge the applause.

The Kenyan total was enough to keep India honest, for under lights only two sides had made more here to win. Yesterday's second-innings conditions, once the sun had disappeared behind Table Mountain and the evening chill filled the air, were not unlike those in which James An derson had bowled England to their spectacular win over Pakistan in the group stage, with a strong south-easterly wind.

Batting, against the new ball at least and especially in the transitional ethereal light before the floodlights took effect, was not easy against disciplined Kenyan bowling which adhered to the basics, with length matched to line and feet kept behind the line.

No team in the World Cup have conceded fewer extras than Tikolo's men and with athletic, wholehearted fielding they give nothing away. It was a dream start for them, for in only the second over Thomas Odoyo, a robust bowler who careers to the crease like a locomotive rocking on its rails, moved a delivery sharply away from Virender Sehwag and found the edge, and Tikolo took the catch at second slip.

Three overs later and joy was unconfined, for Sachin Tendulkar, having hit one boundary, flicked Martin Suji wickedly off his legs, only for the other Suji, Tony, to fling himself to his right and hold a thrilling catch.

From the moment he came in Ganguly showed signs of strain, the more so when Mohammad Kaif became the new ball's third victim, pushing forward to Odoyo and departing lbw, the umpire Peter Willey ruling that the undoubted inside edge had come fractionally after contact with the pad. It was a brave decision but one which may have caused Kaif to cross Willey off his Valentine's list.

At 24 for three India were in deep trouble and staring at an upset. Now, though, Ganguly was with Dravid, the unflappable engine room of the Indian batting, and it seemed to settle him. Boundaries were pulled and driven off Odoyo, and when Suji dropped short he was cut viciously, if in the air and perilously close to a fielder. Gradually Ganguly's timing returned and Kenya paid for it.

An attempt by India to have the second semi-final changed from a day-night into a day game was turned down yesterday. The Indians feared the toss could have a disproportionate influence on the result of the Durban match on March 20.