Bowlers take opening day honours against Kenya

NEW DELHI, August 11: A fine bowling performance from India A helped them wrap up hosts Kenya's first innings for a modest 218 on the opening day of their three-day cricket match at Mombasa.
India Test reject paceman Irfan Pathan picked three wickets for 57 runs with fellow fast bowler Pankaj Singh (3 for 35) and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (3 for 54) also coming up good to take the bowling honours.
But Kenya came back to check Indians' progress by reducing them to 30 for 2 at close, removing captain Mohammad Kaif and Niraj Patel.
Parthiv Patel, who was dropped on nought by Ondongo down on the fine-leg boundary, was batting on 19 and Irfan Pathan was not out at 4 when the stumps were drawn on Friday with Indians training Kenya by 188 runs.
Earlier, Pathan and Pankaj Singh proved Kaif's decision to field right as Kenya went into tea on 183 for 7.
After the interval, India also got the vital wicket of captain Thomas Odoyo, who struck 51 from 108 balls. Odoyo mistimed a pull off Pathan and under-edged the finest of chance to wicket-keeper Mahesh Rawat.