October 25, 2001	Thursday	Shaba'an 7, 1422

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PAARL (South Africa), Oct 24: Indian opening batsmen Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar shared a world record opening partnership as Kenya’s bowlers took a hammering in their triangular One-day International series match at Boland Park here Wednesday.

Ganguly (111) and Tendulkar (146) put on 258, six more than the same pair scored against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1997-98, as India posted 351 for three after winning the toss.

It was a total which virtually ensured India would qualify for the final against South Africa in Durban Friday — and that they would wipe out the embarrassment of defeat against Kenya when the sides met previously a week earlier.

India’s star batsmen set a second world record by sharing their 16th century opening stand in One-day Internationals, one more than Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes of the West Indies.

Tendulkar extended his own individual world mark by easing his way to his 31st one-day century.

His only anxious moment was on 12 when an inside edge against Kenyan opening bowler Martin Suji went dangerously close to the leg stump before racing for four.

Tendulkar had been bowled off an inside edge when India crashed to a shock 70-run defeat against Kenya in Port Elizabeth last Wednesday.

The batsmen took some time to adjust to a slow pitch, scoring only 19 runs in the first five overs but the rate picked up significantly as they took the total to 98 by the end of 15 overs when field-placing restrictions ended.

Both men needed just 48 balls to reach 50. Tendulkar went on to his century off 100 balls with 11 fours, while Ganguly took 15 deliveries more, hitting six fours and three sixes.

He was out after batting for 123 balls and hitting one more four.

Tendulkar made his 146 off 132 balls with 17 fours.

Ganguly gave the only chance by either batsman when he was dropped on 105 by Hitesh Modi off Martin Suji at long-off.

He finally holed out to long-on against Thomas Odoyo, Kenya’s only successful bowler.

Odoyo had Tendulkar caught at midwicket off a full toss in his next over and finished with three for 67 off 10 overs.

Odoyo bowled his first five overs for just eight runs and went for 59 off his remaining five.

India were strengthened by the inclusion of batsman Venkatsai Laxman, who arrived in South Africa Tuesday after missing the start of the tournament because of injury.

But he only got to bat in the 44th over, making 15 before being bowled by Odoyo.

Verendra Sehwag compounded the Kenyans’ misery as he slammed 55 not out off 23 balls with seven fours and three sixes.

Maurice Odumbe returned to captain Kenya after serving a two-match suspension.