COLOMBO, March 2- Kenya have pinned their hopes on salvaging their disastrous World Cup campaign by beating Canada in a battle of the basement boys.
Kenya, dismissed for 69 in their 10-wicket defeat against New Zealand and for 112 in losing to Pakistan by 205 runs, were undone by Lasith Malinga in Tuesday’s nine-wicket loss to Sri Lanka after being shot out for 142.
Now skipper Jimmy Kamande has tagged the March 7 clash with Canada in Delhi as a must-win in a bid to avoid finishing bottom of Group A.
"Those games against Pakistan and Sri Lanka were tough, both are top Test teams, so against Canada it’s a must-win game for us, and we must get a good result," said Kamande.
Canada have lost by 210 runs to Sri Lanka and 175 runs to Zimbabwe and were due to face Pakistan on Thursday.
Kenya were undone by Malinga who took a career best 6-38, also becoming the only bowler to register two World Cup hat-tricks.
"It’s not easy to face Malinga," said Kamande.
"It’s a big challenge because Malinga has a different type of style, and we couldn’t handle him."
Kenya, who won the toss and decided to bat on a flat R. Premadasa stadium pitch, were on course for a respectable near-200 total, before Malinga destroyed them with four wickets in six balls at the end of the innings.
Brothers Collins (52) and David Obuya (51) added 94 for the second wicket before Kenya lost their last eight batsmen for an addition of 40 runs.
"I thought the guys batted well, but they didn’t bat through and that’s the only thing we needed to do. One of the batsmen who has settled in must bat through 50 overs, but we couldn’t do that," said Kamande, who was run out for one.