Kenya hope to secure berth in final

GWALIOR, May 27: Kenya, virtually assured of a final showdown against India at the Eden Gardens thanks to their net run rate advantage over ...

GWALIOR, May 27: Kenya, virtually assured of a final showdown against India at the Eden Gardens thanks to their net run rate advantage over Bangladesh, will hope to add to their improving form as they take on the hosts in the final league tie of the Coca Cola Cup triangular cricket series at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium here tomorrow.

India, with three straight wins looking to maintain a clean slate and domination, should face no serious challenge from the African minnows, who nevertheless would be looking for an upset to make their presence in the summit clash a dignified one.

The hosts, who made heavy weather of chasing a paltry target against Bangladesh in Mumbai on Monday, will hope to give a drastically better account of their batting might.

Skipper Mohd Azharuddin returns to replace stand-in Ajay Jadeja, middle order bat VVS Laxman makes way for Mumbai8217;s Jatin Paranjpe 8212; looking for his maiden cap 8212; and Nayan Mongia returns in place of Syed Saba Karim as part of the Indian selectors8217; decisionto try out as many players as possible to shortlist the ideal line-up for next year8217;s World Cup in England.

Kenya look forward to tomorrow8217;s tie more as a warm-up for the final at Eden Gardens on May 31. Kenya enjoy a minus 0.01 net run rate against the minus 0.64 of Bangladesh and only a disastrous performance can push the Africans out.

If Kenya bat first they have to prevent India from surpassing the target in 26 overs and if chasing, they should ensure the margin of defeat is below 123 runs.

India, who will be playing their third tie against Kenya, will look forward to put aside any complacency seen in the previous matches, where their batting in particular seemed to lack confidence.

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Kenya, who stunned West Indies in the 1996 World Cup match in Pune, can never be considered push-overs and have shown much improvement in the tournament after their subdued loss to Bangladesh in Hyderabad in their opening tie.

India beat Kenya by seven wickets in Cuttack in 1996 and scored a four-wicket win over theAfrican visitors in the Bangalore match.

With Azharuddin back and little champion Sachin Tendulkar in fine nick, India should have no trouble in countering the Kenyan attack on a wicket which is traditionally full of runs. Rahul Dravid, who failed in Mumbai, will hope to put his disappointment behind and give another good display of his stylish batting.