By Dave James
Sri Lanka have a World Cup score to settle having slumped to a shock 53-run defeat against the Africans in Nairobi in 2003, a result which helped the Kenyans go all the way to the semi-finals.
Published: Mar 01, 2011, 01:02 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 01, 2011, 01:02 PM (IST)
Kenyan cricketers warm up during a team training session at The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo
By Dave James
New Delhi: Mar 1, 2011
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Sri Lanka face the World Cup’s worst team on Tuesday, as West Indies’ latest pace sensation Kemar Roach ramped up the pressure ahead of their potential quarter-final eliminator with Bangladesh.Â
Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, lost to 1992 winners Pakistan by just 11 runs in their last outing, but are widely expected to heap more misery on a Kenyan side reportedly split by internal strife. Sri Lanka have a World Cup score to settle having slumped to a shock 53-run defeat against the Africans in Nairobi in 2003, a result which helped the Kenyans go all the way to the semi-finals.Â
“We know all about the embarrassment of losing to Kenya after that debacle in Nairobi back in 2003 and they have some useful players,” said Mahela Jayawardene, one of three Sri Lankans from that match still in the squad. Kenya have four survivors from 2003 — Steve Tikolo, Collins Obuya, Thomas Odoyo and Peter Ongondo — but the team looks a pale shadow of that side at the current tournament.Â
They lost by 10 wickets to New Zealand in their Group A opener after being bowled out for 69 and then suffered a 205-run mauling at the hands of Pakistan. In two games, Kenya have made just 181 runs, are pointless and have the worst run rate.
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© AFP
