Starting time: 9:30 am IST
Venue: Kolkata
Kolkata, March 19: What could the significance of match between two sides that have already been eliminated from the World Cup 2011? Well, it is quite plainly, a final shot at redemption and chance to prove one's worth on cricket's greatest stage that will no doubt spur the two teams into putting their best foot forward when they meet at Kolkata's Eden Gardens on March 20. 
Kenya have won 2 out of 11 of their previous encounters against Zimbabwe, but judging by their robust showing against Australia in their last World Cup match, they might just give Zimbabwe a run for their money. After all, while Kenya has lost two series to their African cousins since the last World Cup, it has has won one, 1-0.
Kenya's batting is comparable to Zimbabwe's this World Cup, but a couple of players from the former team have stood out - Collins Obuya who bears a tournament average of 48.40 with a high of a Man-of-the-Match winning 98 against Australia, and Tanmay Mishra who has scored around 61.00 runs per each of the two innings he has figured in so far.
Meanwhile, while Zimbabwe's top run-getter, Craig Ervine, is averaging a mere 33.00, the collective average of the top five Zimbabwe batsmen is about 140. They will certainly be hoping to top that number in their batting display against Kenya.
In the bowling department, Zimbabwe's Ray Price has proved that he is quite a force to reckon with in the tournament, with 7 wickets at a good average of 21.30, while his spin twin Prosper Utseya has been less impressive 5 wickets at 33.80 runs conceded per scalp.
The Kenyan bowling on the other hand, is nothing much to write home about with their best bowler Thomas Odoyo, averaging 28.00 and their next best bowler Nehemiah Odhiambo, leaking nearly 40 runs per wicket he has taken, though he did put in a fairly useful showing against Australia with 3/57.
It's clear that the team that bats better on the day wins. Going by the big fish theory, since Zimbabwe crushed Canada earlier in the tournament and Canada defeated Zimbabwe, then logic should follow that Zimbabwe will easily rout Kenya. But perhaps the East Africans will snatch victory for the jaws of this... big fish...
Oneindia Cricket
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