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Kenya have won many new fans
It is now official. Australia and India will play in the final. It was quite apparent to most people which two teams would be turning up in Johannesburg for the final.
It is now official. Australia and India will play in the final. It was quite apparent to most people which two teams would be turning up in Johannesburg for the final from as far back as March 12. That was the day when Kenya beat Zimbabwe in the Super Six game in Bloemfontein to qualify for the semi-finals.
Most people expected Australia to beat whoever they came up against --- the winners of the Super Six stage was due to play against the fourth team --- and, of course, Kenya couldn't realistically expect to beat India.
India went into the game against Kenya knowing exactly what was needed. There was the threat of rain around, but Ganguly and India's game plan was quite obvious. Bat first, get over 250 runs and that would be beyond Kenya.
Tendulkar and Sehwag didn't go blazing away in their usual manner at the top of the innings. That was partly because of the nature of the pitch - slow and not encouraging stroke-play -- and also because of the gameplan. Wickets in hand would guarantee a score in excess of 250 easily.
It may not have been the most entertaining cricket that we have seen from this Indian team but it was what was required, and that has gotten them through this game. Now, it's time for the final and the big boys Australia.
The only time captain Ganguly showed a bit of concern was when there were still about six or seven overs to go to constitute a game of 25 overs and a few flashes of lightning lit up the sky on the north eastern part of the ground. He cajoled his forces into some hurried movements, bowled his spinners and they got there with no problem.
After 25 overs had been bowled, it was just a matter of going through the formalities.
Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo refused to lie down and die without some form of resistance, and even though he had not been having the happiest of World Cups with the bat, he managed to eke out a half century before his team's World Cup campaign came to a halt.
The Kenyans are now going home but not before they have gained a whole legion of supporters and friends for their efforts.
Sure, they got to the semi-finals, and that would have endeared them to many fans. But it was also the way they seemed to enjoy their game every time they took the field with either bat or ball, that would have gained them the respect and adulation of many of those new fans.
Let's hope their efforts have gone a long way towards popularising the game in that part of the world. (TCM)
