Finally, here comes a World Cup match that offers Kenya and Canada equal opportunities of picking up points.
Searching for a win after three outings, the favourite whipping boys of the seven-nation Group ‘A’ will be looking to salvage some pride by escaping a last-place finish in the league.
The majority of the World Cup followers are not likely to keep track of this match involving two of the weakest teams in world cricket. For the countries involved, Monday’s clash at the Ferozeshah Kotla is the one where they fancy their best chance to experience the rare joy of victory in a World Cup tie.
Canada has won the last four encounters against Kenya but still does not hold any psychological advantage. The teams are well aware of each other’s inconsistency. In this battle of equals, where quality will be at premium, the team that commits lesser mistakes will come out smiling. Canadian wicketkeeper-skipper Ashish Bagai would once again like to lead the team to victory though there have been some changes in the side that last beat Kenya in the fifth-place playoff of the ICC World Cricket League Division One at Schiedam in July last year.
“It will be a spin game,” said Bagai, going by the results of the two matches played on the surface here. So far, (leg spinner) Balaji Rao has had good games and I expect him to come good again.
While praising the former Tamil Nadu and Railways’ googly bowler, Bagai added, “Perhaps, we can go in with an extra spinner. Kenya, too, has a couple of good spinners.”
An additional reason for the teams to find near empty stands is a fact that the match happens to be on a weekday. But Bagai, who studied at the Capital’s St. Columba’s School and visited his Grandparents and cousins on arrival here, was hopeful of some support from the crowd. “We hope to get good support here. Many of our players are from the Indian background. Our best chance to win a game is here and that’s why it is an important game for us” said Bagai, who turned 29 this Republic Day.
Incidentally, Canada’s only victory in World Cup came against Bangladesh, by 60 runs, in 2003. But since then, it has lost all 11 matches, including three so far in this edition.
Canada’s vastly experienced all-rounder John Davison, 40, who has turned out for Victoria and South Australia, once held the record of the fastest century in the World Cup after smashing the West Indies attack in 2003. Davison is has not scored in two games before being dropped against Pakistan in the last outing. “He brings in a bit more extra to the team. Lots of players gain from his presence and experience,” said Bagai about the seasoned campaigner expected to take the field against Kenya. Like Davison, Kenya’s veterans Steve Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo, too, have struggled to fire so far. In fact, the team itself has failed to have one good session so far. But skipper Jimmy Kamande sounded optimistic on the eve of the match.
“Hopefully, we will get a win out there tomorrow. The Test teams (New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) did not give us a chance to express ourselves fully. They came too hard on us. Now, we have to go out there and enjoy our cricket, hit the ball and not play too defensively. We have to stay positive. We can do wonders in this World Cup itself since we have three more games coming up. Of course, Tikolo and Odoyo will play a key role for us. Obviously, we want to give them a nice send off.”
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