Australia, Kiwis eye easy wins to book last eight spots
Unbeaten so far, Australia looks to silence their critics who claim this team the weakest in four tournaments.
BANGALORE:
Champions Australia should book their spot in the quarter-finals with a win over Kenya in a World Cup Group A match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.
Unbeaten so far in the 2011 edition, with two wins and one match washed out, Australia will look to silence their critics who point out that this is their weakest team in four tournaments.
Their batting ranks, however, was given a boost with the return of Mike Hussey, and barring any surprises, he should work his way through a few games as the business end of the tournament approaches.
Kenya on the other hand have lost all four of their matches and if Australia field their pace trio of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson, Sunday should be no different.
Australia's neighbours, New Zealand, will also be riding high on confidence as they face Canada at the Wankhede Stadium in the other Group A match.
The Kiwis will be led by the maverick Ross Taylor, who marked a spectacular return to form by leading his team to victory against Pakistan, as regular captain Daniel Vettori will rest the knee he injured in the same match.
New Zealand beat Pakistan by 110 runs to notch up their third win having already thumped Kenya and Zimbabwe by 10 wickets. Their only loss was a seven-wicket defeat by Australia.
New Zealand can also cement their place in the knockout stages with a win against the North Americans, who registered their only victory in the tournament against fellow second-tier side Kenya.
The refurbished Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the venue for the April 2 final, will have its first taste of World Cup action with Sunday's fixture.
Champions Australia should book their spot in the quarter-finals with a win over Kenya in a World Cup Group A match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.
Unbeaten so far in the 2011 edition, with two wins and one match washed out, Australia will look to silence their critics who point out that this is their weakest team in four tournaments.
Their batting ranks, however, was given a boost with the return of Mike Hussey, and barring any surprises, he should work his way through a few games as the business end of the tournament approaches.
Kenya on the other hand have lost all four of their matches and if Australia field their pace trio of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson, Sunday should be no different.
Australia's neighbours, New Zealand, will also be riding high on confidence as they face Canada at the Wankhede Stadium in the other Group A match.
The Kiwis will be led by the maverick Ross Taylor, who marked a spectacular return to form by leading his team to victory against Pakistan, as regular captain Daniel Vettori will rest the knee he injured in the same match.
New Zealand beat Pakistan by 110 runs to notch up their third win having already thumped Kenya and Zimbabwe by 10 wickets. Their only loss was a seven-wicket defeat by Australia.
New Zealand can also cement their place in the knockout stages with a win against the North Americans, who registered their only victory in the tournament against fellow second-tier side Kenya.
The refurbished Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the venue for the April 2 final, will have its first taste of World Cup action with Sunday's fixture.