Mon, 07 Mar 2011 - Canada vs Kenya, World Cup 2011, 23rd match Group A - Preview

Equals battle to salvage pride

Preview
Group A match
Canada versus Kenya
Venue: Ferozshah Kotla Stadium, Delhi
Start Time: 14:30 (IST)

Barring Ireland, world cup 2011 has been a very tough assignment for the Associate Nations getting beaten by big teams easily.

For a change, Monday fixture involves an encounter between two minnows and gives them opportunity to showcase their talent against each other. There is nothing to choose between the two sides as both have looked very average sides lacking depth in both batting and bowling.

While Kenya have been no competition to their opponents being mauled in all three encounters, Canada nearly pulled off a victory against Pakistan but Shahid Afridi proved too much for them blowing Canadian batting line-up away by his quicker leg breaks.

In Ferozshah Kotla, both teams will not have a big team to contend with and more or less a battle between the sides with same credentials.

Kenya

Nothing has worked or gone in Kenya’s way. Their senior players have misfired and youngsters look to be lacking the skill to compete at higher level.

Against Canada, Kenya needs to put up a decent show and for that to happen senior men like Steve Tikolo and David Obuya have to raise their game a notch up.

Much talked about youngsters Maurice Ouma and Seren Waters have failed miserably and need to show the people what they are capable of.

Much will depend on all rounder Collins Obuya who can be more than handy with his leg-spin and lethal with his bat as well.

Squad: Alex Obanda Collins Obuya David Obuya (wk) Elijah Otieno James Ngoche Jimmy Kamande (c) Maurice Ouma (wk) Nehemiah Odhiambo Peter Ongondo Rakep Patel Seren Waters Shem Ngoche Steve Tikolo Tanmay Mishra Thomas Odoyo

Coach: Eldine Baptiste

Canada

After getting pasting from Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, Canada had a control over major part of the game against Pakistan before Afridi dashed their hopes.

Giving a good fight to Pakistan might have given them heart and would be keen to go a step ahead with weaker opposition to contend with.

Their bowlers have impressed with H Baidwan and leg spinner Balaji Rao doing their reputation a world of good thanks to their performance with the ball. They would like to repeat the performance against Kenya to help their team to open the account in the tournament.

Batting is thin on experience and skill level with senior men John Davison, Rizwan Cheema and Ashish Bagai yet to come to party.

They have a relatively in experienced bowling line-up of Kenya to play against and need to put up the score on the board.

Youngsters in Jimmy Hansra, Nitish Kumar and Ruvindu Gunasekra get another chance to translate their talent into some runs.

Squad: Ashish Bagai (capt/wkt), Rizwan Cheema, Harvir Baidwan, Nitish Kumar, Hiral Patel, Tyson Gordon, Henry Osinde, John Davison, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Parth Desai, Karl Whatham, Khurram Chohan, Jimmy Hansra, Zubin Surkari, Balaji Rao.

Coach: Pubudu Dassayanke