World Cup Betting: Kenya v Zimbabwe

Match Previews / Ed Hawkins / 19 March 2011 /

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Brendan Taylor has a good record against Kenya

"Taylor is the wager with three 50s in his last three games against Kenya"

Ed Hawkins reckons there is a decent wager to be had for this contest in Eden Gardens in the wee hours of Sunday. Follow him on Twitter here

London start time: 04.00

Team news
Kenya and Zimbabwe meet in Kolkata in a stupefying fixture. It could be the last we see of both in a World Cup if the ICC go ahead with plans to trim the 2015 event to a 10-team affair and there will not be many tears shed.

Collins Obuya is Kenya's man in form with the bat following his unbeaten 98 against Australia. Paceman Nehemiah Odhiambo took three wickets in that game.

For Zimbabwe, Craig Ervine has a 50 last time out against Pakistan. Ray Price, the fiery spin bowler, and top wicket-taker with seven wickets, is their main threat.

Venue and conditions
The average first-innings total at Eden Gardens in the last eight matches is 236 although in the last three games there are signs that the surface is getting better to bat on; Netherlands' 306 wasn't enough to beat Ireland. There is no discernible toss bias.

Match odds
Kenya are showing signs of improvement. Annihilated by New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka before suffering a five-wicket loss to Canada, but they can take confidence from their performance against defending champions Australia, in which they totalled a respectable 246 for six chasing 324.

Still, that is probably not enough to warrant backing them at [3.90] and the overwhelming feeling is that this is a contest which is to be left alone with bigger, and better, betting opportunities to come. Zimbabwe, whose batting has been dreadful, are [1.32].

Top batsman - Kenya
With 242 runs Collins Obuya is streets ahead of his teammates. He is [4.00] for honours. Tammay Mishra, priced at around [5.00], is second best with 129 runs.

Top batsman - Zimbabwe
The Zims have just not fired with the bat and Brendan Taylor, their main man, has been a disappointment. He averages 28 but with 144 runs is only 21 behind Ervine as the overall top bat. Taylor is [4.00] and Ervine [5.00]. Taylor is the wager, however, with three 50s in his last three games against Kenya. He should be around [2.10] for a 50.

Featured market
Don't be surprised to see these two jokers produce plenty of comical running. More than 1.5 run outs could be value.

Best bet: Back B Taylor for 50 @ [2.10]

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