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Views from the boundary by Sarb Johal

This last weekend, I did what any good Indian son would do: I took my parents to go and see India play. It had been planned for some time. We knew that India would be playing Kenya in the preliminary stages of the ICC Champions Trophy at the RoseBowl - Hampshire CCC's impressive home ground, and I booked the tickets months in advance. We'd seen the same India v Kenya fixture at Bristol during the 1999 World Cup in India, when Sachin had hit a memorable century, and we hoped to see something just as amazing again.

We worried about the weather, but it turned out fine. We didn't worry about the parking arrangements, and we really should have. The details of shockingly inadequate "Park and Ride" we were sent with the ticket application pack scheme forgot to describe the part about "Waiting". As a result of thousands of people (mainly Indian supporters) arrived to wait for an hour and a half and more for chartered buses and coaches to ferry us for miles to the ground. 

We arrived at the ground some two and a half hours after parking, meaning that we had missed some 20 overs of the Indian batting. We were not happy, and as yet, I have not received any reply to my complaint to the managers at the Rose Bowl.

We rushed past the Australian squad practicing on the second pitch at the Bowl. Gillespie looked awesome with full mullet and beard combo - enough to make any batsman consider retreating to square leg before Gillespie had even reached the crease. We tried to settle in our seats at the pavilion end and immerse ourselves in the amphitheatre atmosphere. People continued to trickle in to the two-thirds full stadium, as Laxman and Ganguly steadily built the Indian platform. Sehwag had come and gone quickly - a bit rude we thought, as we were still trying to make our way to the ground. As Captain Ganguly notched up his 50 during the 24th over, we began to relax and get into the game.

The run rate was a steady 4 an over, until Gavaskar came on to the pitch with water and instructions for the Captain. The statement became clear as 13 runs flowed from the next over off Patel's bowling. Kenya's cause wasn't helped by their low intensity fielding, with returns from deep field coming in to the 'keeper almost on second bounce. After the 37th over, the run rate had crept up to 5 an over, but the crowd wanted more, wanted an explosion. When Ganguly departed in the next over, bowled by Suji for a classy 90 as he tried to up the pace, Yuvraj came to the crease with the crowd baying for the blood of the Kenyan gladiators.

It didn't last. Yuvraj got a thick edge on an Otieno delivery and was soon on his way, replaced by Kaif, promoted up through the order. He was soon joined by his mentor and ICC all-star Rahul Dravid, as Laxman (79 off 99) was stumped by the Kenyan 'keeper. For a few moments, the crowd gazed at the scoreboard and the anxiety was palpable. 213 for 4 after 44 overs didn't look too bad, but it wasn't great.

But the Indians provided sweet relief. Kaif gorged on the Kenyan bowling as the pair put on 67 for the last 6 overs. He finished on 49 not out, supported generously by Dravid (30 from 16 balls), who joined the crowd in applauding Kaif's controlled demolition of the closing bowling attack. India had shown their talented and flexible batting line-up - without the injured Sachin - and implemented a ruthless batting plan towards an above par target on a decent batting wicket.

India's bowling was less impressive. They started well enough - Pathan's first ball after winning the ICC Emerging Player of the Year (a worthy but somehow ugly title) was an aggressive bouncer around 85mph. It was called wide. 

The fielding was razor sharp, typified by Kaif's snappy direct run-out to take the first wicket, and his diving attempt to run out Tikolo, for which he received an accidental boot in the chops. Pathan chipped in with a quick two wickets - one that straightened for a plumb LBW, and another that hurried Modi into skying the ball into orbit, dropping eventually into the Indian skipper's safe hands. Three quick wickets from Harbhajan Singh - including the unlucky Aga - edging his third ball in his first one-day international, and the Kenyans were 74 for 6.

The Indians in the crowd were celebrating and stopped paying too much attention to what was happening on the field of play. One could accusers the Indian players of doing exactly the same. The Kenyans demonstrated some considerable resolve in refusing to capitulate, and batted out their allotted 50 overs finishing on 192 for 7, including a 92 run stand for the 7th wicket between Patel and Ouma.

Kenya probably looked worse than they played. They can take heart from the solid spine of their lower middle batting order, but must work on getting more experience playing against the local Test nations in their region. India looked back to their best in the batting stakes, but the bowling looked lacking in depth. Balaji has looked the most impressive partner for Pathan in recent matches, and was the only bowler who looked a threat during the ill-fated Videocon Cup warm-up. Harbhajan Singh got a valuable workout before the key Pakistan game, but Agarkar and Nehra need to step up a level if India is going to have the tools to completely root out an opposition's batting line up, rather than giving them the chance to flower again.

 

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