Australia's "rusty" spin attack failed to take a wicket as the world champions recorded an
unconvincing 60-run win over World Cup Group A rivals Kenya.
Australia chose to bat first in Bangalore on Sunday, scoring 6-324 led by Michael Clarke (93 from 80 balls) and recalled veteran Mike Hussey (54 off 43).
The No.13-ranked Kenyans hit 6-264, a brave effort against a bowling attack which looked rusty after not playing for eight days.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting had said on match eve he supported the next World Cup featuring 10 teams instead of 14 and the Kenyans clearly had a statement to make on Sunday.
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Tanmay Mishra scored a career-best 72 before he was run out by
Clarke with a direct hit from point.
Mishra and Collins Obuya added 115 to take the score to 4-161.
Man of the match Obuya made a career-best 98 not out, failing to hit a boundary when on 97 facing Shaun Tait with one ball remaining.
Tait was Australia's only multiple wicket-taker with 2-49 from
eight overs.
Australia's spinners Jason Krejza (0-36 off eight), Steve Smith (0-36 off six) and Clarke (0-21 off five) failed to make an impact despite bowling on a pitch favouring spin.
It was the first time in five matches in the tournament that Kenya had reached 200.
"We were a bit rusty, having a long break between games," said Ponting whose team hadn't had a full match for over two weeks after last weekend's clash with Sri Lanka was rained off.
"Our bowling was okay, we probably just lacked a little bit of the intensity required through our middle overs tonight."
Australia had slumped to 4-143 as 13,600 fans sensed trouble for the world champions before Hussey and Clarke added 114 for the fifth wicket.
Hussey had been dropped from the original 15-man squad last month because he was recovering from hamstring surgery.
Paceman Doug Bollinger's ankle injury opened the door for a recall after one Shield match and Hussey was included in Sunday's team at the expense of brother David.
Brad Haddin was caught at long-on from the bowling of off-spinner Jimmy Kamande for 65 at 2-127 in the 25th over.Ponting fell in the next, lbw for 36 to leg-spinner Obuya.
Australia's third setback in three overs came when Cameron White was bowled by Kamande for two, bringing Hussey to the crease with three wickets having fallen for 16 runs.
Hussey signed off on another ultra-professional performance when he was caught at long-on in the 44th over, becoming one of paceman Nehemiah Odhiambo's three victims.
Clarke's fourth half-century in his past five games ended when the 29-year-old holed out seven runs shy of his first World Cup hundred. The vice-captain averages 175 in the tournament.
Unbeaten in 33 World Cup games, Australia's next assignment is against Canada in Bangalore on Wednesday.
