Kenya fancy their chances, Zimbabwe also on a high (23 March 1999)

23 March 1999

Kenya fancy their chances, Zimbabwe also on a high

Hasan Masood

After a rest day on Monday, the Meril International Cricket Tournament resumes at the Bangabandhu National Stadium this afternoon with Test-side Zimbabwe taking on Kenya in their return leg clash at 2 pm.

State media Bangladesh Te-levision and Radio Bangladesh will provide Live commentary of the match.

Zimbabwe, the pre-tournament favourites, have won both their first round clashes against Kenya and hosts Bangladesh by big margins, and are expected to repeat their feat in today's match against the ICC runners-up.

The Test-babes defeated Kenya by 139 runs in the inaugural match last Friday and then handed Bangladesh a 126-run bashing on Sunday night.

Kenya, on the other hand, are second in the table having convincingly beaten Bangla-desh by eight wickets in their second match last Saturday.

Both Zimbabwe and Kenya had nets at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday morning. The teams looked pretty relaxed about today's match. Perhaps they both knew what was likely to happen today.

"I have already said that we have come here to win the tournament with an unbeaten record. Tomorrow's match will be another hurdle for us to cross and we are ready for that," said Zimbabwean captain Alistair Campbell after the nets.

"We are taking every match very seriously because one bad day may change the whole complexion of our mission.

"After winning the first two matches, we are more confident now to win this tournament. The morale of the team is higher now," said the left-handed batsman, adding that legspinner Paul Strang might return to the team for today's match.

Besides, Zimbabwe will also look forward to Andy Flower, who scored 83 and 79 in the previous two matches, winning the man-of-the-match trophy on each occasion.

Kenyan captain Asif Karim also revealed that the spirit of his team was quite high after their eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh.

"That win has definitely changed the approach of my team and we are looking forward to playing better cricket tomorrow," said Karim.

Both teams will name their final eleven before the match this afternoon.

Zimbabwe: Alistair Campbell (captain), Eddo Brandes, S. Carlisle, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Murray Goodwin, Adam Huckle, Neil Johnson, M Mbangwa, Henry Olonga, Paul Strang, Heath Streak, D Viljoen, Guy Whittall and Andrew Whittall.

Kenya: Asif Karim (captain), Maurice Odumbe, Ravindu Shah, Stephen Tikolo, Sandeep Gupta, Martin Suji, Tony Suji, Alpesh Vadher, Hitesh Modi, Kennedy Otieno, Thomas Odoyo, Deepak Chudasama, Joseph Angara, Muhammad Sheikh and James Kamande.

Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)