THE Kenyans scored a 70-run victory over India under lights in the one-day international Summer Spice Series. It was indeed an outstanding result. The Kenyans had last defeated the Indians in Gwalior. Then Sachin Tendulkar was not in the team, but he returned for the final of the Independence Cup and scored a century against the Kenyans at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
The man who fashioned the convincing win for Kenya was seamer Joseph Angara, who must thank his stars for getting an opportunity to play for his country which has been averaging three internationals a year, when the majority of the other teams have been playing anywhere between 20 and 35 and sometimes 40 in a period of 12 months.
It was the most remarkable result at a time when the followers of the game in South Africa and the people directly connected with the tri-series, had written them off as an 'also ran team'. "This is what I don't want people to say," said Kenya's coach Sandeep Patil before the start of the tournament. But the Kenyans lost three straight matches by big margins. But in their fourth match they proved everybody wrong.
This was Kenya's eighth win in 41 one-dayers. They caused the biggest upset of the World Cup in 1996 in Pune. "I think I will put this win against India up there along with the win over West Indies," said Steve Tikolo when asked how he would rate his team's win against the Indians. It was reported then, that there were major differences with the captain Richie Richardson and Brian Lara after the West Indies captain decided to field first after winning the toss.
The foundation for Kenyans' second win against the Indians was laid by their opening pair - Kennedy Obuya and Ravindu Shah. Their record in the previous matches did not suggest that they would prove to be a thorn in the Indian flesh. Both made half centuries and put in 121 for the first wicket, the second best in the tri-series after Ganguly and Tendulkar's 193 against the South Africans at 'The Wanderers'.
Kennedy Obuya and Shah handled the Indian new ball attack of Venkatesh Prasad and Harvinder Singh easily, with the first named taking the lead to give thrust to his side's run rate. He struck some powerful shots on either side of the wicket, but impressed while driving straight down and lifting the ball into the stands. Kennedy Obuya had made 16 runs in his three previous outings, but he came good on a day when Kenya was on the verge of being eliminated from the tournament.
He (64, 95 balls) hit three sixes and six fours and riding on his fine innings, Kenya crossed the first hundred in the last ball of the 28th over. He and Shah (who made his second consecutive half century, he had made 55 against South Africa in Kimberley) were back in their dressing room after putting their team on the road to victory. Shah cracked a fluent 50 (75 balls, 5 x 4). After their good performance with the bat, allrounder Thomas Odoyo made a 52-ball 51 with six fours and one six that took the Kenyan total past 200 and close to 250.
"At one time I thought, we would end up making 260 or more runs, especially after a good start by the openers. But after I went in Ravi (Shah) too got out. So I thought I must carry the Kenyan innings. We lost many wickets, thereafter. This turned out be a setback in so far as not being able to make 260 or more. But the four seamers bowled superbly to keep us in the game right throughout and finally take us to victory. We held some catches, but also dropped a few. It was because of the wind factor," said Tikolo.
Tikolo said his team did not have to think much about the problems faced by Maurice Odumbe and his two-match suspension. "We had to go out and play the match. I felt like I was over the moon," said Tikolo at the post match press conference. "The boys must take all the credit. We had planned certain things and they executed it," said Patil.
The Indian openers struggled to play their shots and when they hit the ball hard, they found the Kenyans denying them runs. Tendulkar failed to get going, but Ganguly counterattacked hitting two magnificent sixes off Angara. The Kenyans were in total control of the match, after the exit of the openers. Ganguly was bowled of his thigh guard. The Kenyans sensed victory after his departure.
Then the wickets fell in a heap, Rahul Dravid and Yuveraj Singh being dismissed one after another by Tony Suji. The Indians did not make 197 to prevent the Kenyans from gaining the bonus point, but brought down the margin of defeat to under 100 runs, thanks to some fine hitting by Harbhajan Singh in the end. The Indians were bowled out for 176, which made the Kenyans clear winners by 70 runs. When Reetinder Singh Sodhi tried to hit his way out of trouble, Collins Obuya took a spectacular one handed catch at backward point.
"I don't know what to say. We surprised ourselves by playing poor cricket. It (the pitch) looked good right throughout. We had no business to lose. But I must also say that their bowlers did a good job. Their fielding was brilliant inside the circle and in the deep," said Ganguly.
The scores:Kenya: K. Obuya c Tendulkar b Yuveraj 64; R. Shah c Yuveraj b Harbhajan 50; S. Tikolo b Harbhajan 27; T. Odoyo c Martin b Kumble 51; D. Obuya b Prasad 26; C. Obuya c Sodhi b Prasad 3; M. Suji (not out) 8; S. Gupta (not out) 1; Extras (b-1, lb-5, nb-6, w-4) 16. Total (for six wickets in 50 overs) 246.
Fall of wickets: 1-121, 2-123, 3-203, 4-213, 5-220, 6-243.
India bowling: Prasad 8-2-45-2, Harvinder 9-1-42-0, Sodhi 3-0-14-0, Kumble 10-1-36-1, Ganguly 3-0-21-0, Harbhajan 10-2-38-2, Yuveraj 7-0-44-1.
India: S. Ganguly b Odoyo 24; S. Tendulkar b Angara 3; J. Martin b Angara 36; R. Dravid c D. Obuya b T. Suji 11; Yuveraj Singh b T. Suji 0; R.S. Sodhi c C. Obuya b Angara 21; D. Dasgupta c K.Obuya b M. Suji 19; A. Kumble b C. Obuya 1; Harbhajan Singh c Shah b Odoyo 37; V. Prasad (not out) 10; Harvinder Singh b Odoyo 1; Extras (lb-1, nb-4, w-8) 13; Total (in 46.4 overs) 176.
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-41, 3-60, 4-60, 5-97, 6-100, 7-103, 8-153, 9-172.
Kenya bowling: M. Suji 10-1-37-1, Angara 10-4-30-3, Odoyo 9.4-0-41-3, T. Suji 7-0-35-2, C. Obuya 10-2-32-1.
THE Kenyans call him 'Jose'. He was their match winner against India on an eventful night at the St. George's Park, Port Elizabeth. The moment he bowled four overs and one ball without being scored off and bowled the world's highest run scorer in one-day internationals, Sachin Tendulkar, the name of Joseph Angara was on everyone's lips. He went on to take two more wickets and finished with a match tally of three that won him the 'Man of the Match' award for the first time in his short career of eight one-day internationals.
Angara had donned the Kenyan colours seven times before the sixth match of the tri-series in South Africa. He was not played in the three previous matches when the Kenyans were at the receiving end. Then came the ICC suspension on skipper Maurice Odumbe for talking about, umpire Dave Orchard, who officiated the South Africa-Kenya match in Kimberley.
It was after the team's practise session on the eve of the match that the Kenyans decided to play Angara. "He was bowling extremely well at the nets. So I called Steve Tikolo and asked him to have a look at Joseph. Then we decided to play him. It clicked. He's a sort of a bowler who doesn't have pace, but bowls to a good line and length and has the ability to use the seam. I am happy he has done Kenya proud," said coach Sandeep Patil.
Angara had nothing to show by way of having taken many wickets in his previous matches. He had a collection of five wickets at an average of 57.40, his best being two for 50 in the World Cup '99 match against Sri Lanka in Southampton. But on October 17, he produced his best performance by taking three wickets. "It was a great feeling bowling four overs for nothing to established openers like Sachin (Tendulkar) and Sourav (Ganguly). I got Sachin's wicket, too. I hope I am able to do it again," said Angara.
Because Kenya had played only seven one-dayers after the 1999 World Cup in England, Angara, too, did not get the exposure needed to develop his skills in international cricket.
"He was in and out of the team. The important thing is that the Kenyans play very few matches and in these circumstances, one must grab all the opportunities. After today's win, I am sure there will be a healthy competition for places in the Kenyan team," said Patil.
Angara looks promising, but for him to make it big in international cricket, Kenya must play at least 20 odd one-dayers in a year and must get the full membership of the ICC at the earliest. Such encouragement can do a world of good to their cricket.
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