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India secured an easy victory against the Kenyans to enter the much-awaited final against Australia in the 2003 World Cup by a comprehensive 91-run semi final triumph at Kingsmead, Durban. India have reached the finals after a gap of 20 years since their win against the Might West Indies in 1983.
India scored 271 for 4 on a sluggish pitch and a heavy outfield along with the threat of rain looming large and then dismissed the Kenyans for 179 in 46.2 overs.
Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag played with caution and managed to score a solid 74-run partnership for the first wicket in about 18 overs.
Sehwag soon mistimed a lofted shot off Ongondo to Maurice Odumbe and departed for 33. Skipper Ganguly then joined the master batsman and together they kept the runs flowing. Since the boundaries were difficult to score due to the heavy outfield, Tendulkar hit a straight six of Tikolo as he crossed the 600-run mark in this tournament.
However, he soon hit a short ball from Tikolo to the mid-wicket fence and into the hands of Obuya, who took a brilliant catch. Tendulkar (83) again got dismissed early without being able to score a century.
Ganguly then took over and kept the run rate up at a healthy level. He hit five towering sixes on his way to his second straight ton against the Kenyans. This ton was Ganguly’s third of this World Cup and the 22nd of his career.
Ganguly remained unbeaten on 111 (114 balls) and in the final onslaught he was helped by Mohammad Kaif, who scored 15, and Yuvraj Singh, who scored 16. Ganguly was awarded the man of the mach for his brilliant knock.
Indian finally managed to score 270, a total that was just too much for the Kenyans.
Skipper Ganguly was relaxed only after 25 overs, when the Kenyans were 82 for 5, 72 runs short of the target according to the D/L method, which would have been applicable had the rains interrupted the game.
The Indian seamers did a good job, as they removed the first four Kenyan batsmen with just 36 runs on the board. Zaheer Khan trapped Ravindu Shah plumb in front for 1. Peter Ongondo then hit Ashish Nehra straight to Zaheer Khan for a duck. Kennedy Otieno was caught behind for 15 off a Javagal Srinath delivery. Nehra then dismissed Thomas Odoyo (7).
Maurice Odumbe (20) also fell for a Yuvraj delivery as Kenya were reeling on 82/5. Steve Tikolo (56) was the only batsman to stay at the wicket long enough to make a sizable score. Tikolo found it difficult, as he had no support from the other end. The Kenyan innings soon came to an end by 46.2 overs.
Zaheer Khan with a spell of 3 for 14 and Ashish Nehra 2 for 11 were naturally the best of the Indian bowlers.
India will now meet the Aussies at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday, 23rd March.
India scored 271 for 4 on a sluggish pitch and a heavy outfield along with the threat of rain looming large and then dismissed the Kenyans for 179 in 46.2 overs.
Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag played with caution and managed to score a solid 74-run partnership for the first wicket in about 18 overs.
Sehwag soon mistimed a lofted shot off Ongondo to Maurice Odumbe and departed for 33. Skipper Ganguly then joined the master batsman and together they kept the runs flowing. Since the boundaries were difficult to score due to the heavy outfield, Tendulkar hit a straight six of Tikolo as he crossed the 600-run mark in this tournament.
However, he soon hit a short ball from Tikolo to the mid-wicket fence and into the hands of Obuya, who took a brilliant catch. Tendulkar (83) again got dismissed early without being able to score a century.
Ganguly then took over and kept the run rate up at a healthy level. He hit five towering sixes on his way to his second straight ton against the Kenyans. This ton was Ganguly’s third of this World Cup and the 22nd of his career.
Ganguly remained unbeaten on 111 (114 balls) and in the final onslaught he was helped by Mohammad Kaif, who scored 15, and Yuvraj Singh, who scored 16. Ganguly was awarded the man of the mach for his brilliant knock.
Indian finally managed to score 270, a total that was just too much for the Kenyans.
Skipper Ganguly was relaxed only after 25 overs, when the Kenyans were 82 for 5, 72 runs short of the target according to the D/L method, which would have been applicable had the rains interrupted the game.
The Indian seamers did a good job, as they removed the first four Kenyan batsmen with just 36 runs on the board. Zaheer Khan trapped Ravindu Shah plumb in front for 1. Peter Ongondo then hit Ashish Nehra straight to Zaheer Khan for a duck. Kennedy Otieno was caught behind for 15 off a Javagal Srinath delivery. Nehra then dismissed Thomas Odoyo (7).
Maurice Odumbe (20) also fell for a Yuvraj delivery as Kenya were reeling on 82/5. Steve Tikolo (56) was the only batsman to stay at the wicket long enough to make a sizable score. Tikolo found it difficult, as he had no support from the other end. The Kenyan innings soon came to an end by 46.2 overs.
Zaheer Khan with a spell of 3 for 14 and Ashish Nehra 2 for 11 were naturally the best of the Indian bowlers.
India will now meet the Aussies at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday, 23rd March.