Kenya were simply irresistible, outplaying India in every department of the game and even gaining a bonus point. It was the third of their famous victories, and in many ways the most impressive. They did it without their captain, Maurice Odumbe (man of the match in both their previous giant-killings, against West Indies in the 1996 World Cup and India in 1998), without their manager who was in hospital with a serious heart problem, and without significant runs from their best batsman, Steve Tikolo. More than that, they came into the match with disdain ringing in their ears after crushing defeats in their first three games. By the end, the disdain was all on the other side. Only one Indian left the ground with his head held high -- Sandeep Patil, the Kenyan coach.

From the start Kenya played with a new vitality, typified by Joseph Angara, who bowled four successive maidens, including two in a row to the great Tendulkar, on his way to the Man of the Match award. The Indian batsmen seemed bolted to their crease by invisible screws. A narrow defeat might have been acceptable, but this was a disgrace on a good pitch. It was the kind of performance that will provide ammo for Jagmohan Dalmiya to question the utility of hiring a foreign coach (although someone should point out that it worked for Kenya).

Tendulkar's footwork raised fresh doubts about his fitness, Ganguly did not know where his leg stump was and Dravid allowed the pressure to get the better of him. Only the callow Sodhi showed any spirit and substance.

The Indian bowling was rubbish. Only Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble showed international class; the others were carted around St George's Park for 14 fours and five sixes. If Harbhajan and Kumble hadn't combined in the final overs, Kenya's total could have been over 260.

Kennedy Obuya's half-century was a beauty. He took time to get into the groove, but once he found his rhythm he was unstoppable. Runs cascaded off his bat and he wasn't afraid to take the aerial route. In the end, his innings was gone with the wind, literally: the swift breeze turned a potential six into a catch at long-off.

Once Kenya learn to convert fifties into hundreds, they will be flexing their cricketing muscles more than occasionally. Nairobi wasn't built in a day -- but at least the foundations are laid.

H Natarajan is a staff writer with Wisden.com India.

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