India breeze past Kenya

India 290 for 4 (Ganguly 90, Laxman 79) beat Kenya 192 for 7 (Ouma 49, Harbhajan 3-33) by 98 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball-details

Almost everything fell neatly into place for India as they romped to a 98-run win in their opening match at Southampton. Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman piloted the innings with a responsible partnership, and a surge at the end meant that India were boosted to 290 for 4. At no stage were Kenya in the hunt, and Harbhajan Singh went about hammering the last nails into the Kenyan coffin.

Kenya chose to field first in favourable conditions, but they were haunted by their old nemesis - Ganguly. In the last three games against Kenya, Ganguly had racked up three hundreds, and overall averages close to 72 against them. He had an even better record in the Champions Trophy, with an average of close to 82 in 11 matches. Just as he had done in the final match of the NatWest Challenge at Lord's - when he also made 90 - Ganguly bided his time against a testing opening spell. His first four came as late as the 12th over in the form of a delectable caress through the covers, but he gradually unfurled a few specials. Walking down the track and simultaneously making room, he carved several balls over the infield.

Laxman scraped off all the early-season rustiness and, like Ganguly, showed signs of vintage form. He hadn't passed fifty since his memorable century in the decider against Pakistan at Lahore. He was on his way with some wristy strokes, but nearly threw it away after serving up a delicious appetiser. Martin Suji completed a splendid diving catch off a flick to short midwicket, but a no-ball call meant that Laxman survived. His fifty came up in 72 balls, and he cranked it up from then on with some crisp slaps and sweeps.

Both Ganguly and Laxman fell while trying to up the ante. Ganguly yorked himself and lost his stumps as he charged down the pitch, while Laxman was stumped easily after he danced down the track trying to loft Steve Tikolo (213 for 4).

But Mohammad Kaif and Rahul Dravid ensured that India took off from this launching pad, rattling up 77 from the last 41 balls. With a mix of whippet-like urgency between the wickets and judicious placement, they manufactured 41 runs in singles and twos. Rageb Aga, the debutant, was crashed to all parts, and was at the receiving end of Dravid's scooped six over extra cover. Kaif finished unbeaten just one short of his half-century, but by then the momentum was well and truly with India.

Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan picked up the baton and took India to the brink of victory even before the halfway stage of the Kenyan innings. Pathan's darting swing left the top-order batsmen clueless, and there were a number of very close shouts for lbw. He finally got his reward in only the seventh over of the innings, when Tikolo was trapped plumb in front. Hitesh Modi fell soon after, as Ganguly judged a steepling skyer to perfection (21 for 3).

Ravindu Shah plodded on and, with Thomas Odoyo, took close to ten overs to add 37. But Harbhajan sawed off the resistance as he picked up 3 for 11 in his first five overs. Shah fell flashing at a wide one, Aga completed a forgettable debut and offered a bat-pad chance, while Odoyo was deceived by the sharp turn and bounce. Dinesh Karthik didn't have the best match, but he did snap up two smart catches amid the wreckage (74 for 6).

Maurice Ouma and Brijal Patel delayed the inevitable with a 92-run stand, mainly thanks to Ganguly's decision to give his part-time bowlers a go. Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Ganguly himself sent down as many as 17 overs. Eventually Ajit Agarkar came back on, and had Ouma caught off the last ball of his spell for 49 (166 for 7).

Kenya managed to play out the 50 overs and finished on 192 for 7. They now have three days to recover from this mauling. Pakistan, though, may turn out to be even more ferocious opponents.