Kenya have already pulled off one upset in this tournament - against Sri Lanka - and they looked well on course to pull off a second after 10 overs, when India were 24 for three.

First to go for India was Virender Sehwag, playing neither forward nor back to a full delivery from Thomas Odoyo and, as a result of absolutely no movement of the feet, getting an edge that Steve Tikolo at second slip snapped up delightedly.

The excitement could have been cut with a knife when, not three overs later, Tendulkar tried to flick one on the legside, did so uppishly, and Tony Suji took a fine catch to his right at leg gully, sending his teammates into paroxysms of glee.

After Kaif was lbw to Odoyo, trying to play across the line, the innings stabilised somewhat. Sourav Ganguly, looking in remarkably good touch for one reviled regularly for his lack of form, played his strokes with elan, bringing up his fifty with a hard-hit six over midwicket in the 24th over.

At the other end, Rahul Dravid did what comes as naturally to him as falling down to a toddler - play sheet anchor with a composure that belied the gravity of the situation.

At the 25-over mark, India were 98 for three, with Ganguly on 55 and Dravid on 25.

Much has happened under lights during this World Cup, and if Kenya can show enough spirit in their bowling, Cape Town may witness an upset yet.

The architect of that score, for the large part, was Kennedy Otieno, opener and sheet anchor, who made a steady 79 off 134 balls (six fours, two sixes) at the top of the lineup. He held steady fort at one end as wickets fell at the other, sweeping the spinners often and milking runs where possible.

After the 25th over, Otieno was supported by Thomas Odoyo, who provided the required steadiness in the middle after Steve Tikolo fell cheaply, tiding Kenya through the middle overs without any serious mishaps.

Otieno and Odoyo fell in quick succession, and for a while it looked as if India were poised to rattle through the lower order. But Maurice Odumbe struck a sparkling 34 off 24 balls, pushing all his partners to run like hares between the wickets, and was rewarded as quick runs boosted the Kenyan total in the twilight of the innings.

Javagal Srinath emerged as the top wicket-taker for India as first Collins Obuya and then Peter Ongondo tried slogging the ball for swift runs and were caught in the deep.

Accordingly, openers Kennedy Otieno and Ravindu Shah, like the cat in the adage, let "I dare not" wait upon "I would." Wide balls were watched rather than flirted with, full deliveries were worked rather than smacked, and the single was de rigeur.

India's bowlers too did not seem to have the spit and fire to winkle out obdurate batsmen. Both Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan looked listless, the latter going for 17 runs in his three overs - this when Kenya's openers were not exactly smashing the leather off the ball!

A few delightful strokes did sneak their way through into centrestage, with one smooth-as-silk wristy flick through the onside from Shah standing out. India's fielders did not help their cause one bit; one ball after Harbhajan Singh dropped Otieno at square leg, Dinesh Mongia let one slip off Shah at first slip. When, a few overs later, Kaif - normally as safe as a house - grassed a sitter at cover, India looked in some disarray.

It did not get better immediately. Otieno thumped Zaheer for a six far into the stands at long off, and Harhajan's next over went for eight. Sourav Ganguly must have thus been extremely relieved when Shah (34, 52b, 3x4) ran down the pitch even as Otieno declined a single, tried to beat Zaheer's direct hit back to his end, and then blew his top at an Otieno frankly undeserving of it before exiting the scene.

Another unnecessary rush of blood ensued from skipper Steve Tikolo, the one Kenyan batsman who could really have capitalised on a solid Kenyan opening partnership of 75. Tikolo tried to heave Harbhajan Singh far over square leg and got a top-edge that landed safely in Zaheer's hands in the deep.

At the halfway stage, Kenya were 85 for two, with Otieno on 38 and Thomas Odoyo on 4.

But they cannot take Kenya too lightly, having been beaten by them twice in one-day internationals. One of those losses came during a tri-series in South Africa, when Joseph Angara proved chief destroyer.

Kenya, for their part, have been the unwilling focal point of some controversy over the points system, and although even their entry into the Super Six was an unexpected bonus, they will no doubt be supremely happy to notch up a win, for that will not only put the flak to rest but also give them a semi-final berth.

Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo was quick to choose to bat firs after winning the toss, for his side's best chance in this game lies in posting a competitive total and then rely on chasing pressure and the floodlit atmosphere to hamper India.

India made only one change, with the spinner's slot rotating yet again in favour of Harbhajan Singh instead of Anil Kumble.

For Kenya, David Obuya and Joseph Angara have been replaced by Tony Suji and Thomas Odoyo.

Teams:

India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Harhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Javagal Srinath, Dinesh Mongia