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McDermott's injury mars Waughs' day

Australia (304-7) beat Kenya (207-7) by 97 Runs

Under the weight of the highest partnership for any wicket in the World Cup, 207 for the third wicket between the Waugh twins, Mark and Steve, Australia crushed Kenya by 97 runs.

But considering the torment they endured as Mark Waugh scored 130 off 128 balls, and his brother 82, Kenya's reply was certainly spirited.

At the heart of their gallant response was a third-wicket stand of 102 between Kennedy Otieno and their captain, Maurice Odumbe, who earned the distinction of becoming the first two Kenyans to reach 50 in the competition.

Like the Waughs, who came together to rectify an embarrassing Australian start of 26 for two, Otieno, who made 85, and Odumbe joined forces at 30 for two.

Australia's satisfaction at winning and a job well done, will be tempered by concern at Craig McDermott suffering a recurrence of his calf injury after he had bowled just three overs.

Mark Taylor, Australia's captain, said a decision would be made today on whether they would need to send for a replacement.

Although Kenya prefer to chase targets, they might have been better off batting first, for it was predictable that the pitch would get slower and slower, making stroke-play more difficult, as the day wore on.

The weather was another factor. The onslaught of the Waughs was more telling for the heat and humidity in which the Kenyans chased the ball all over the ground. Otieno, who had kept wicket before opening the innings, was deprived of his century by an agonising attack of cramps in the leg which forced him to interrupt his knock when 82.

The Australians' overall scoring rate was not quite out of Kenya's control until the halfway mark, but Mark Waugh reached his fifty off only 67 balls, with six fours.

By then, however, he was at the throats of the spinners. The seamers returned to try to contain the Waughs and Rajab Ali could have ended the menace of Mark Waugh in the 27th over, when he was 72. He was missed twice in that over, first at long off, and then by Otieno, whose keeping otherwise was impeccable.

At 85, a thunderbolt of a straight drive, played uppishly by Mark, went through the hands of the bowler, Thomas Odoyo. But highlighting these errors is not to say that the Kenyan fielding was poor.

Mark Waugh himself looked overcome by the heat, but he batted on remorselessly until only nine overs remained. His brother, who fell in the next over, out to a superb reflex action return catch, was also severe, getting his runs off 88 balls.

In Kenya's reply, Otieno and Odumbe did not for a moment look like freshers in this class of cricket as they put on 102 in 18 overs. The underdogs might have run the Australians closer had their leading batsman, Steve Tikolo, flourished. He was out to a brilliant diving catch at cover by Ponting, from a drive at Paul Reiffel.