Kenya battle for pride
Preview
Group A Match
Sri Lanka versus Kenya
Venue: R Premdasa Stadium, Sri Lanka
Start Time: 14:30 (IST)
Kenya have got mauling in both the matches they played in the tournament so far. While they combusted against pace of Hamish Bennett for paltry 69 in their first game, Pakistan handed them a 205 runs defeat in second match of the tournament.
Another heavyweight awaits them on Tuesday. For many cricket teams, it has been very difficult to defeat Sri Lanka in their own den and Kenyan players know it well.
Kenyan team hasn’t had much to treasure in the tournament and appear to be low on confidence and much can’t be said of their skill level. With reports of fallout between players and coach, it will mountainous task for captain, Jimmy Kamande to lift their players for this encounter.
One of the favorites to lift the cup, Sri Lanka had a bad game against Pakistan losing by 11 runs with batsmen not living up to the expectations. Bowlers, barring Murlitharan, didn’t have a good day in office as well.
But all that is past. Sri Lanka will take the field tomorrow with renewed desire to get a win but a convincing one. Return of Lasith Malinga who missed first two games due to a back spasm should boost the bowling and will make Sri Lanka altogether a different unit.
Tuesday day-night game, it appears, should be another one-sided affair with Sri Lanka trying to fine tune certain areas of their game.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan openers have scored in both their matches but haven’t looked authoritative as the team would have liked. Tilkeratne Dilshan has lacked trademark fluency in both innings so has Upul Tharanga. Team would want them to gain it against Kenya.
Kumar Sangakara had a fighting 49 against Pakistan but he too didn’t score them at a good rate. Jayewardene would like to make amends of his batting failure in last match by putting substantial score on the board.
Bowling unit is something Sri Lanka will like to fine tune and return of Malinga should lift the team.
Murlitharan showed his class against Pakistan and Kenya should be an easy opposition for him.
Squad: Kumar Sangakkara (Capt & Wkt), Mahela Jayewardene, Tilkeratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapudegera, Chamara Silva, Thisara Perrera, Muthaih Murlitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekra, Dilhara Fernando and Lasith Malinga
Coach: Trevor Bayliss
Kenya
They have hardly done anything to boost their confidence. This Kenyan side clearly lacks the skill and temperament that previous teams possessed.
It will be another chance for youngsters to show their talent and senior players like Steve Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo should lift them for this encounter.
Their pride has been dented and they will make sure they put up a good show to resurrect that.
Their openers need to stay for a longer time at the crease to provide some platform to middle and lower order batsmen.
It will be a tough task ahead of them to face Malingas and Murlis with jam-packed Premdasa crowd backing them to full tilt.
Will their inexperienced bowling line-up be able to keep strong Sri Lankan batting unit under control remains to be same.
The Squad: Jimmy Kammande (Capt),Tanmay Mishra, Rakep Patel, James Oteino, Steve Tikolo, Thomas Odoyo, Collins Obuya, Peter Ongonda, Morris Ouma, David Obuya, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Shem Ngoche, Seren Waters, Elijah Oteino and Alex Obanda.
Coach: Eldine Baptiste
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