Southampton : India defeated Kenya by 98 runs in the opening Pool C Champions Trophy match on Saturday. Never over ambitious, Indians played with a level head through out the match.

Kenya played the full quota of overs to finish on 192 for seven. Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the Indian bowling attack with three wickets costing just 33 runs. Irfan Pathan took two wickets for 11 runs.

Maurice Ouma was top scorer among the Kenyans with 49 runs.

Sourav Ganguly, who scored 90 to prop up the Indian innings, was declared the Man of the Match.

India put Kenya under pressure early on as by the end of 10 overs they reduced Kenya to 25 for three. A brilliant direct hit by Mohammad Kaif got India the wicket of Otieno. Then Pathan struck twice to get Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo and Hithesh Modi out.

Then Harbhajan Singh tied down Kenyans although they handled Agarkar with comparative ease at the other end. Harbhajan scalped the wickets of Ravindu Shah, Thomas Odoyo and R Aga giving away just 33 runs.

Earlier India started slowly making just 31 runs in the first 10 overs. Sehwag got out early, making just 17 runs, stumped while stepping out to hit Odoyo.

But Ganguly and Laxman steadied the Indian innings, slowly increasing the scoring rate as it progressed. Ganguly fell 10 runs short of his fourth century against Kenya, yorked by Martin Suji, when he tried to step out against him.

Yuvraj Singh, promoted up the order, presumably to increase the scoring rate, did not last long. Shortly after he was caught behind off Odoyo, Laxman too got out, trying to hit Tikolo stepping out of the crease.

But the blast was yet to come. Kaif and Dravid, even without attempting big shots, propelled India to 290 in the final overs. Kaif made 49 of 29 balls, while Dravid made 30, which included a straight six off Aga.

Kenya are to face Pakistan on September 14 at Edgbaston in the next Pool C match. India will clash with their archrivals on September 19 at the same venue in one of the most eagerly awaited ties of the tournament.