India register easy victory over Kenya

India warmed up for their Pool C decider against Pak next weekend with a straightforward win. Score

On a day where the sun kept up more than a brave show despite the weathermen's ominous predictions and the wind gods were out in full, biting force, the Rose Bowl was a sea of blue interspersed with saffron, white and green.

They came by the horde --- mostly in blue T-shirts beating dholaks, some wearing the bright orange of the Aztecs Cricket Club with Punjab Police stickers glued on and many bare-chested with the tricolour painted on their chests and swigging beer. In any case, it was India day in this sleepy town of southern England and while Kenya had their handful of supporters in the crowd --- most interestingly of Indian origin --- they were booed down every time they made an attempt to egg on their team.

And the team needed some encouragement. The Kenyans got Sehwag early (though he stood around for 29 balls and smacked two square cuts while he was there) but that was where the happy part of the day ended for them. Ganguly and Laxman (at No. 3 this time in case you among the few who weren't watching and are confused as to what the Indian batting order was) were involved in 161-run partnership for the second-wicket.

It wasn't the most commanding of stands in the way they went about it, but the Indian skipper played very well for the first 60 runs or so of his 90. He wasn't throwing his bat around, wasn't trying to hammer the bowling, just trying to get as much time in the middle as possible -- something he had said he wanted all his batsmen to do. He again got out 10 short of his 100 and would likely be cursing himself because he'd probably have reverted to his aggressive style with the ton out of the way.

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