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Last gasp chance for hosts

With their back against the wall, Bangladesh will be hoping for a reversal of fortunes when they take on Kenya in a crucial encounter of the Meril International one-day tournament at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today.

The day-night match will kick-off at 2 pm with both the state-run media - Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar - providing ball-by-ball commentary from the big bowl.

For Bangladesh, who lost both their first-leg matches of the tri-nation tourney, it will be a do-or-die battle. The docile hosts conceded a 126-run defeat to fancied Zimbabwe in their second match after an eight-wicket whipping by Kenya in their inaugural match last Saturday.

The repeat clash with Kenya, which will be the last string of hope for Bangladesh for a berth in the final, will also be important for the ICC Trophy champions to prove a point against the African lions.

Bangladesh, fresh after a two-day rest, will certainly enjoy an edge over Kenya, who will take the field within 24 hours after their 64-run defeat to Zimbabwe yesterday.

With regular wicketkeepr Khaled Masud back in the side after a one-match lay-off due to injury, Bangladesh is likely to field almost the same eleven that played against Zimbabwe.

But the team management is yet to decide who would bat at number three in place of dropped make-shift wicketkeeper-batsman Jahangir Alam. It was also learnt that World Cup bound Faruque Ahmed would not be fit before Bangladesh's last match against Zimbabwe.

The national team had a light practice session yesterday morning at the Bangabandhu where skipper Aminul Islam expressed his optimism to beat the Kenyans.

``I believe we are the better side. But, at this moment, nothing is going right with the team. We are not getting our rhythm. On the other hand, the Kenyans are in fine form. Specially, their two experienced batsmen, Tikolo and Odumbe, are playing excellently,'' said Aminul while talking to the press corps after the workout.

``But we will make a turnaround tomorrow. We have no other option but to win the match'', said the stereotyped Bangladesh captain.