March 1, 2003	Saturday	Zul Hijjah 27, 1423

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JOHANNESBURG, Feb 28: Before the World Cup began, most experts would have said Saturday’s Group ‘B’ encounter between Bangladesh and Kenya here at the Wanderers was a ‘meaningless match’.

It is now anything but.

Kenya’s sensational 53-run win over 1996 champions Sri Lanka in Nairobi on Monday catapulted the East Africans to the top of the group table.

Following New Zealand’s boycott of their match in Nairobi, Monday’s victory left Kenya on 12 points and with a real chance of going through to the Super Six.

Collins Obuya, a 21-year-old leg-spinner, was Kenya’s hero against Sri Lanka, taking five for 21 at Nairobi Gymkhana and is likely to be a big threat again.

“He has a lion heart, walks like a lion and has the strength of a lion,” said Kenya captain Steve Tikolo of Obuya.

“The boy has come of age, he will definitely go places,” said Kenya’s former international fast bowler Edward Odumbe.

“I will not be surprised if he does continue with his form against Bangladesh,” Odumbe added.

Adding spice to the encounter is the fact that Bangladesh were promoted ahead of Kenya to be become cricket’s 10th Test nation.

Kenya, who many thought had a better claim on cricketing grounds, currently enjoy One-day International status only.

Unfortunately for Kenya, Bangladesh’s international record is so poor that the chances of them or indeed anyone else, being welcomed into the elite in the forseeable future are all but non-existent.

Bangladesh have lost 16 of their 17 Tests, 11 by an innings. Only rain, which denied Zimbabwe a certain away win, prevented a 100 percent loss record.

The tiny South Asian nation have also been defeated in 28 of their last 30 one-dayers, the other two games being rain-affected washouts.

At this tournament only a downpour against the West Indies in Benoni has prevented ive straight defeats.

And their dreadful record prompted Kenya coach Sandeep Patil to say earlier this week: “To tell you the truth, if Bangladesh can play Test cricket, there is no reason why we can’t.

“I think we are as good as them, if not better. Our time will come,” he added.

The record books certainly support his view — in six previous One-day Internationals between the two countries, Kenya have won five to Bangladesh’s one.

Teams (from):

KENYA: Steve Tikolo (captain), Maurice Odumbe, Asif Karim, Alpesh Vadher, Ravindu Shah, Hitesh Modi, Brijal Patel, Martin Suji, Tony Suji, Thomas Odoyo, Kennedy Obuya, Joseph Angara, Peter Ongondo, David Obuya, Collins Obuya.

BANGLADESH: Khaled Mashud (captain), Al-Shahriar, Alok Kapali, Habibul Bashar, Hannan Sarkar, Ehsanul Haque, Sanwar Hossain, Khaled Mahmud, Manjurul Islam, Akram Khan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mohammad Rafique, Talha Jubair, Tapash Baisya, Tushar Imran.

Umpires: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka) and Neil Mallender (England).

TV umpire: Simon Taufel (Australia).

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).—AFP