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Bangladesh take on Kenya in first of three ODIs today
8/12/2006
Being inspired from the last and fifth ODI victory against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh take on Kenya in the first match of three-match ODIs series at Nairobi Gymkhana Sports Club ground Saturday, reports BDNEWS.
After all efforts of clinching the first-ever abroad series in Zimbabwe went in vain, Bangladesh are certainly looking forward in Kenya to fulfil their dream of winning the abroad series against Kenya.
The tigers left here for Zimbabwe last month hoping to clinch the series against Zimbabwe, but the hosts stunned Tigers clinching the series 3-2.
However, the Tigers restored some pride overwhelming Zimbabwe by eight wickets in the last and fifth match with opener Shahriar Nafees hammered a ton.
Bangladesh would certainly be boosted mentally to remember the record against Kenya at home where they whitewashed the African nation in the four-match series in May this year.
On the other hand, the Kenya's statistics against Bangladesh at home also speaks for the Kenyans that are worrisome for Bangladesh. The Tigers played two matches against Kenya in Kenya and lost both of them emphatically.
In those games, Bangladesh were on the receiving end of a then world record 225-run opening stand made by Dipok Chudasama and Kennedy Oriento. Kenya eventually scored a healthy 347 runs which was the highest total against Bangladesh by any opponent until last year when England overtook that score in a NatWest Trophy match by amassing 391.
In the other match, Bangladesh were bowled out for just 100 runs, which is their lowest score against any ICC associate member country.
Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore recently said, "The objective is to win and try and adjust to different conditions, and we hope we can dominate Kenya again in this series like we did in Bangladesh".
He added that he considers all the Kenyan players are equal and that his team will not be targeting any particular player.
Whatmore also said the result of the series against Zimbabwe would not reflect the differences between the two teams.
According to wire services, Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo said, "We lost badly in our last meetings and we hope to reverse the results in this series. We did not bat well in Bangladesh but it is an area we have been working on and our bowlers are looking in good shape going by the performance in Canada."
The Kenyan team, which returned to Nairobi from Canada Wednesday, played two ODIs and a four-dayer against Canada. They lost the four-dayer, but recovered with winning both the ODIs.
Kenyan coach Roger Harper also believes the team has made some improvements since the loss to Bangladesh and that the players are relishing another confrontation with the tigers.
"Playing Bangladesh at home is something the team is very much looking forward to. We did not have a very good time in Bangladesh but this is our home environment, the players are familiar with it and we expect a better performance," Harper said.
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