Jadhav steals the limelight

Dheeraj Jadhav's unbeaten 260 at the top of the order took India to a wholesome 492 on the second day of their three-day match against Kenya at the Simba Union Ground in Nairobi. Kenya replied with 161 for 2, but it was Jadhav who stole the limelight.

Jadhav, just approaching his 25th birthday, topped the run-scoring charts in the last Indian domestic season, and clearly has taken his good form into the India A tour of Kenya. Ambati Rayudu (50) added 11 to his overnight score but the batsmen who came after him failed to make any mark.

Jadhav waged a lone battle and pushed his score from 163 to 260. Venugopal Rao (13) and Ramesh Powar (1) are both trying to make a mark as allrounders, but could not give Jadhav the support he needed. The last five batsmen contributed a mere 15 between them, and yet the score was pushed from 420 for 5 to 492. Jadhav, in carrying the bat, played out 386 balls for his 260.

Kenya responded well, reaching 161 for 2 thanks to unbeaten half-centuries from Maurice Ouma, the wicketkeeper-opening batsman, and Steve Tikolo, the captain. Ouma remained unbeaten on a patient 51 from 160 balls, while Tikolo dashed along to 76 not out from 132 balls with 13 fours. Amit Bhandari picked up the two wickets to fall, Brijal Patel caught by Sridharan Sriram for a first-ball duck, and Hitesh Modi caught behind for 19.

The match is destined for a tame draw unless India A can bowl out Kenya twice in the one day that remains.