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Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from South Africa and Kenya

DURBAN, Thursday - Sourav Ganguly cracked his 22nd one-day international hundred for India to leave minnows Kenya chasing a daunting 271 runs for victory under lights in the second World Cup semi-final played at Kingsmead here today. The Indian captain overcame a slow pitch to reach his century off 108 balls hitting Martin Suji for a six over long on in the 49th over.

Ganguly really took apart the inexperienced Kenyan bowling hitting five sixes and five fours as India hammered out 82 runs off the last ten overs to end with a total of 270 for four wickets.

Sachin Tendulkar was unfortunate not to join his captain in scoring a century when he was dismissed for 83.

India took the surprising decision to bat first even after the amount of rain the ground had taken the previous day and also part of the morning of the match. It was a positive move by the Indians who didn't want to bat second knowing the ball would seam a lot under lights and also to avoid keeping pace with the Duckworth/Lewis run rate if rain was to affect the side batting second. Play took place under overcast conditions, but the rain held on for India to bat out their full quota of overs.

Openers Virender Sehwag and Tendulkar made slow progress against tight bowling and keen fielding by the Kenyans who kept a strict check on the run rate allowing only 56 runs off the first 15 overs. The tightness of the situation demanded forceful shots and Sehwag attempting one, succumbed to Ongondo when he got a leading edge onto a drive and was caught by Odumbe at extra cover. India lost their first wicket at 74 with Sehwag's contribution being 33 off 56 balls. The partnership lasted 113 balls.

All credit to the Kenyans for maintaining an excellent line and length and tying down the strong Indian batting. However the arrival of captain Ganguly at the crease saw the acceleration that was badly needed in the innings.

Tendulkar didn't try anything outstanding but played the ball according to its merits. He completed his 62nd one-day fifty and sixth of the tournament off 64 balls with four fours and with Ganguly stepped up the run rate in a second wicket partnership that produced 103 runs off 120 balls.

Ganguly twice hit leg-spinner Collins Obuya for six over mid wicket in the 29th over and Tendulkar also joined in the acceleration by lofting Tikolo for six. But at 83 with a second century in the tournament well within sight, Tendulkar tried to pull Tikolo from outside off stump to leg and was caught by David Obuya on the midwicket boundary. Tendulkar faced 101 balls and hit five fours and one six in his innings which was not a dominant one but more workmanlike on a slow pitch where the batsmen had to work the ball. Ganguly went to his 51st one-day half-century using up 70 balls and including three sixes and a four.

Mohammad Kaif escaped a narrow run out decision at seven when Collins Obuya from point hit the stumps with a direct throw with Kaif diving into the crease. Kaif's bat appeared to be in the air when the stumps were disturbed on slow motion replays but third umpire Simon Taufel thought otherwise and gave the benefit to the batsman.

However Kaif didn't last long as Obuya finally ran him out eight runs later with another the direct throw from point which found the batsman desperately short of the crease.

The Kenyans also took the wicket of Yuvraj Singh for 16 before the overs ran out. They showed a lot of enthusiasm on the field to restrict the scoring rate. What they lacked was a bowling attack which could take wickets to put the opposition under pressure. As a result, although India started rather slowly they had the wickets in hand to accelerate towards the end which they did scoring 92 off the last ten overs. The Kenyans hardly had any encouragement from the stands which was dominated by thousands of flag waving Indian supporters. But they stuck to their task willfully and all credit should go to them for a gallant effort on the field. The winner of this contest meet Australia in the final at Johannesburg on March 23.

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