Kenya in India: Batsmen dominate drawn match

Far from being overawed by the huge total put up by the visiting Kenyan team, Maharashtra CA XI replied in kind and with batsmen calling the tune, it was no surprise that the two day match at the Poona Club ended in a tame draw on Saturday. In fact the two sides could complete only their first innings at the end of two days.

Kenya led off with 432 for eight declared off 90 overs at the end of the opening day. Maharashtra batted the whole of the second day and were 374 for seven in 90 overs when stumps were drawn.

Consistent batting down the order saw Maharashtra come up with a fitting reply. The Kenyans did get an early wicket with NA Godbole being out for 18 at 29. But after that, they found success hard to come by. The other opener JS Narse (60) and skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar (56) added 117 runs for the second wicket. While Narse faced 109 balls and hit nine of them to the ropes, the left handed Kanitkar played 100 balls and hit eight fours. Medium pacer Odoyo dismissed both in successive overs but the recovery process was maintained with veteran Santhanu Sugwekar (50) and KD Aphale (54) figuring in a fourth wicket partnership of 91 runs off 21.4 overs. While Aphale faced 93 balls and hit eight fours, the more aggressive Sugwekar faced only 60 balls, while also hitting eight of them to the ropes.

Tikolo finally dismissed both of them but the innings was kept going by a sedate unbeaten 32 by S Shah who batted two hours, faced 76 balls and had four boundary hits and a breezy 60 off 63 balls by wicketkeeper SM Komdhalkar. He hit ten fours and two sixes. The two batsmen added 102 runs for the seventh wicket off 20 overs. Odoyo finished with three for 35 while Tikolo had two for 90.

The Kenyans, who had lost their opening fixture to Tata SC at Mumbai by two wickets, now play the MCA President's XI in a one day game at Mumbai on Monday.