PORT ELIZABETH (South Africa), Oct 18: Kenya came back from three consecutive defeats to pull off an upset victory over India by 70 runs in their triangular series day-night match at St George’s Park Wednesday (partly reported in Thursday’s edition).

Kenya scored 246 for six in their 50 overs and bowled India out for 176 to secure their first win in the tournament which also features South Africa.

The result was even more extraordinary given that Kenya were without their captain and key batsman Maurice Odumbe, who was sitting out the first game of a two-match ban following remarks he made about an umpire after Sunday’s nine-wicket defeat to South Africa.

Kenya seamer Joseph Angara captured three wickets, making the crucial early breakthrough to remove Sachin Tendulkar, and there were also three wickets for Thomas Odoyo as India succumbed to fiercely determined out-cricket.

Angara struck the most significant blow by bowling Tendulkar between bat and pad for three.

The first runs off Angara did not come until his fifth over when Saurav Ganguly (24) hit him for two sixes in three balls, first charging down the wicket to carve him low over extra cover and then clearing the boundary behind the bowler with another crisp straight drive.

A bowling change brought immediate rewards for the Kenyans, however, Odoyo bowling Ganguly around his legs as the Indian captain misjudged the line.

Kenya then struck twice in two balls, wicket-keeper David Otieno holding on to a routine chance when Rahul Dravid (11) flashed at Tony Suji and then Yuvraj Singh dragging the next delivery on to his stumps.

Perhaps the defining moment of the match came with Jacob Martin and Reetinder Singh Sodhi consolidating well for India.

Sodhi (21) looked in astonishment to see Collins Otieno dive full length at point and cling onto a spectacular one-handed catch from his full blooded drive off an Angara long-hop.

Angara celebrated that wicket with another in his next over, bowling Martin for 36.

Although Kenya put down four catches as they closed in on victory, the upset was completed as Odoyo claimed the wickets of Harbhajan Singh for a breezy 37 and bowled Harvinder Singh for one.