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Tendulkar's first WC ton shatters Kenya

Cuttack, India, Sunday, - Sachin Tendulkar launched India's World Cup campaign with a whirlwind 127 that sent newcomers Kenya crashing to a seven-wicket defeat in a group A match here on Sunday.

The 22-year-old genius smashed 16 boundaries and a six in his maiden World Cup century as India overhauled Kenya's respectable 199 for six with 49 deliveries to spare at the Barabati stadium here.

Fellow opener Ajay Jadeja chipped in with 53 in a first-wicket stand of 163 before an attack of cramps forced him to throw his wicket away in the 33rd over.

India also lost Navjot Sidhu and Vinod Kambli in quick succession, but Tendulkar and wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia guided India home before 20,000 excited home fans.

It was just the start India needed after a 10-week break from international cricket ahead of their second match against the West Indies in Gwalior on Wednesday.

The Kenyan bowlers could do nothing more than stare as Tendulkar cut loose from the start, racing to 50 by the 14th over and reaching 99 in the 34th.

Tendulkar, with four one-day hundreds already under his belt in 101 previous internationals, groped nervously for nine deliveries before finally controlling his nerves and reaching his ton with a single off Maurice Odumbe.

It provided the perfect celebration for captain Mohammad Azharuddin, whose 200th one-dayer began shakily when he sent Kenya to bat and found his bowlers being smashed around the park.

Steve Tikolo (65) and skipper Maurice Odumbe (26) took advantage of India's sloppy fielding to put on 96 for the third wicket, taking the score to 161 for two by the 41st over.

But the Indians, stung by constant jeering from the home fans, hit back with three wickets in the space of 11 balls and restricted Kenya to just 38 runs in the last nine overs.

Star leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who took the field despite being bedridden for the last three-days with viral infection, claimed three for 28. Fellow spinner Venkatapathy Raju chipped in with two for 34.

Kenyan openers Deepak Chudasama and Kennedy Otieno put on 41 in the first 13 overs before Tikolo and Odumbe increased the momentum with audacious hitting and sharp singles.

The 24-year-old Tikolo, signed up by Border to play in South Africa's next domestic season, hit four boundaries and a six off Raju in his polished half-century.

Wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia broke the threatening stand with a smart stumping as Odumbe shaped to hit Kumble out of the ground. Tikolo fell in the next over, deceived by a slower ball from the wily Raju.

Kumble removed Hitesh Modi and 17-year-old schoolboy Thomas Odoyo cheaply to help restrict India's winning target to four runs an over.