Bahutule spins Kenya to a massive defeat

India A 517 for 4 (Rao 200*, Sriram 118, Rayudu 61*) beat Kenya 116 and 168 (Bahutule 5-58) by an innings and 233 runs
Scorecard

Kenya's failure to fight it out for the second time running ensured that India A won the first four-day game by a massive margin of an innings and 233 runs. Kenya's second-innings total of 168 surpassed their previous effort of 116, but India A had managed to put up 517 for 4. Venugopal Rao remained unbeaten on 200, and by the time the Indians declared, he had chalked up almost half of the total.

India thoroughly outplayed Kenya, and Sairaj Bahutule, in particular, was the bane of the batsmen. He ravaged Kenya with five wickets in each innings, and only Ravindu Shah could withstand the pressure, top-scoring with 33 and 44. Their second innings contained only one 50-run partnership, though Kenya needed a stand-out performance to keep the Indians at bay.

Indian spinners took 14 of the 20 wickets, and Kenya were left ruing their lack of runs in the first innings. The defeat with a day to spare gave Kenya more time to regroup and get their plans together before the second four-day game. It's a vital game for them, because immediately after the second match, they'll be heading to the Champions Trophy where, in their very first encounter, they face the main Indian team.