Kenya vs Zimbabwe World Cup 2011

Kenya vs Zimbabwe World Cup 2011 is an exhilarating group stage match of the ongoing world cup. Both the teams have tremendous potential to win the game and they come from the same continent � Africa. Cricket is a popular game in both the nations and it is interesting to see how Zimbabwe plays against the Kenyans. This will be a Group A match and will take place on Sunday, March 20, 2011. It is the 41st match of the tournament and will be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India. In Kenya, viewers can watch the match on SABC and SuperSport. In Zimbabwe, live telecast is available on the same channels. Indian cricket lovers can see broadcast of the game on ESPNStar Network.

Match Timing and Venue

The game will be played on March 20, 2011. It is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. IST and it is going to be a day game. Viewers in Zimbabwe can see the match from 6 a.m. local time and in Kenya, broadcast will be available live from 7 a.m. local time (Nairobi). The Kenya vs Zimbabwe World Cup 2011 match will be played at Eden Gardens Stadium, Kolkata.

About Eden Gardens

Eden Gardens is a famous cricket arena in Kolkata (earlier known as Calcutta), India. Eden houses the Bengal Cricket Team and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) of Indian Premier League (IPL). Both tests and One Day Internationals are played in this venue. In terms of seating accommodation, it is the biggest cricket ground in India. It is broadly recognized as the most iconic cricket stadium in the country.

Notable events at the Eden Gardens

• Disturbances ensued at the stadium during the 1966/67 West Indies and 1969/70 Australian trips.
  
  
• The final of the unforgettable 1987 World Cup was played here which resulted in Australia beating England by 7 runs.
  
  
• The 1996 World Cup semi-final with Sri Lanka was stopped on the brink of triumph over the home side once the spectators set fire to the gallery following a batting failure of the Indian team
  
  
• In 1999, star batsman of India Sachin Tendulkar was given run out after clashing with Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan. The spectators assumed that Akhtar had obstructed him deliberately and started creating disturbances, compelling the police to remove the supporters. The game was played before a vacant arena.
  
  
• An ODI (One Day International) hat-trick was taken by Kapil Dev versus the Sri Lankans in 1991 at this venue. A hat-trick versus Australia in 2000/01 also brought Harbhajan Singh to fame. He was the first bowler in India to get a hat-trick in test cricket.
  
  
• VVS Laxman made 281 versus Australia in 2000/01. This is still the top score at the ground. The Aussies were beaten in spite of having a superior position for the most part of the game. It is frequently portrayed as �the greatest come-from-behind victory of modern times�. It was just the third occasion in the chronicle of test cricket that a country became victorious after being told to follow on.

How to Reach Eden Gardens

Now the query that can come up in your mind is how to reach Eden Gardens. Since it is centrally situated, the ground is well linked by local buses and metered taxis. However, if you wish to stay away from the traffic snarls then you can resort to the rolling along leisurely trams. In spite of the fact there is no stoppage at the Eden Gardens, you can constantly make use of the nearest stop. You can also avail the Metro Rail, which has now become a popular means of conveyance. This will help you steer clear of traffic congestions. You can board a train from any of the stations such as Dum Dum, Shovabazar, Park Street, Maidan, Jatin Das Park or Kalighat. You have to get off at Esplanade and the ground is just 5-10 mins walk from the station. Rather than walking, you can also avail a hand-pulled rickshaw. You will not find motorized three wheelers or auto rickshaws in this region. Taxis are available 24 hours a day and you can hire them at all times to reach the ground. You can also rent a private car to arrive here and catch the excitement.

Two EMU special trains are operated by Eastern Railway. The first one runs between Naihati and Princep Ghat and the other between Baruipur and BBD Bagh. This service is offered to assist people from the suburbs to reach the stadium.

Now these are some options that can help you reach the ground in Kolkata.

The Teams

Kenya Jimmy Kamande (Captain), James Ngoche, Tanmay Mishra, Alex Obanda, Shem Ngoche, Collins Obuya, David Obuya (wicketkeeper), Thomas Odoyo, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Elijah Otieno, Peter Ongondo, Rakep Patel, Maurice Ouma (wicketkeeper), Seren Waters and Steve Tikolo.

Zimbabwe

Elton Chigumbura (Captain), Charles Coventry, Regis Chakabva, Terry Duffin, Graeme Cremer, Greg Lamb, Craig Ervine, Chris Mpofu, Shingirai Masakadza, Tinashe Panyangara, Raymond Price, Brendan Taylor, Tatenda Taibu (wicketkeeper), Sean Williams, and Prosper Utseya.

About the Teams

New Zealand

Daniel Vettori (captain), James Franklin, Hamish Bennett, Jamie How, Martin Guptill, Nathan McCullum, Brendon McCullum (wicketkeeper), Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Luke Woodcock and Kane Williamson

Sri Lanka

Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Mahela Jayawardena, (Vice Captain), Upul Tharanga, T.M Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedara, Angelo Mathews, Tissara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, and Rangana Herath

Strength of Kenya and Zimbabwe

In Kenya, Tanmay Mishra, Alex Obanda, Rakep Patel, Steve Tikolo, and Seren Waters are good batsmen. Collins Obuya, Jimmy Kamande (captain), and Thomas Odoyo are excellent all-rounders. Maurice Ouma and David Obuya are wicketkeepers. The bowling attack will depend on bowlers like Shem Ngoche, James Ngoche, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Peter Ongondo, and Elijah Otieno.

In Zimbabwe, the top batsmen include Charles Coventry, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, and Sean Williams. Their success is also dependent on all-rounders like Elton Chigumbura (captain) and Greg Lamb. A lot will depend on Tatendra Taibu and Regis Chakabva in the area of wicketkeeping. Their pace-spin bowling attack comprises Graeme Cremer, Shingirai Masakadza, Chris Mpofu, Ray Price, and Prosper Utseya.

Both Kenya and Zimbabwe will be upbeat to win the battle. The game will definitely be enjoyable to the cricket lovers. Zimbabwe will obviously take advantage of experienced players like Tatendra Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Raymond Price and Prosper Utseya. They are already one game up against the Canadians, which will boost their morale.

Past Performances

Kenya has played in the past four world cups (1996, 1999, 2003, and 2007). They reached the semifinal stage only once - in 2003. On the other hand, Zimbabwe took part in the past seven versions of the game, starting from 1983. In 1999, their record was impressive as they achieved the fifth place and in 2003, they attained the sixth place.

We wish all the best to Zimbabwe and Kenya for the forthcoming cricket world cup encounter.

Tickets

You can purchase tickets from the Eden Gardens Ground at various gates. You can also buy them online.

Live Score

Watch out this space for the latest score. Enjoy the game!





Last Updated on 01 April 2011