Chawla puts India on verge of big win
Hundreds from S Badrinath and Parthiv Patel carried India A to a big total and Piyush Chawla spun out four Kenyan wickets to put the tourists on the verge of a win on day two at Mombasa
Cricinfo staff
06-Aug-2007
Kenya 97 and 191 for 8 (Obuya 51, Chawla 4-31) trail India A 406 for 8 dec (Badrinath 133*, Patel 124) by 118 runs
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Hundreds from Subramaniam Badrinath and Parthiv Patel carried India A to a 408 for 8 declared and then Piyush Chawla spun out four Kenyan wickets to put the tourists on the verge of a big win on the second day at Mombasa. Collins Obuya's 51 was the top score for Kenya, who began their second innings 309 runs in arrears, but a lack of support saw them stumble to 191 for 8 by stumps.
The morning began with a light drizzle but play started on time, although Kenya were without their captain, Steve Tikolo, who did not take the field until later because of a calf strain. Patel and Badrinath, the overnight batsmen, began the day in the same aggressive vein as the evening before. Patel, who resumed on 100, was aggressive and moved to 124 quickly before slapping Hiren Varaiya's slow left-arm spin to a diving Jimmy Kamande at mid-on.
Badrinath was rock solid. He found an able ally in Irfan Pathan (32 from 50 balls), with whom he added 65 for the sixth wicket. Kenya got rid of Chawla and Yo Mahesh, but No. 10 Pankaj Singh showed an appetite for a scrap, hitting an unbeaten, run-a-ball 40 to help Badrinath past his century and India to over 400.
Singh worked the ones and twos confidently, and also hit three sixes as India ground Kenya down. With the declaration close, and his hundred safely behind him, Badrinath picked up quick fours and a six off Rajesh Bhudia.
Faced with a mountain to climb, the Kenyan openers, Maurice Ouma and David Obuya started confidently, adding 40 in five overs, but strikes from Pathan, Singh and Pragyan Ojha had the hosts in trouble. Tanmay Mishra, with 32 from 70 balls, and Obuya, with 51 from 72, resurrected the innings somewhat but Chawla's introduction had India right back on top. He trapped Mishra leg before, and whittled away for 11 overs to finish with 4 for 31, leaving India two wickets away from taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match contest.