Kenya take the field in today’s Twenty-20 world Cup match against New Zealand as definite underdogs. Not only are New Zealand a Test team and one of the favourites for the tournament, they are also the most experienced side internationally at the shortest form of the game. Unlike Kenya, they also have a domestic Twenty-20 league, so of the two countries are expected to have a much better understanding of what it takes to win. They also have the wood on Kenya having beaten them in the One Day World cup earlier in the year. it is a position that Kenya are not unused to in world Cricket, but one that also brings out the fighting qualities in the team.

As such heavy favourites, all the pressure will be on New Zealand to deliver and they will be expected to win big. Kenya on the other hand have nothing to lose. If they can get some early wickets or quick runs, they will put pressure on the Kiwis and from there anything could happen. With several professional Twenty-20 leagues in the offing around the World, there is also a great opportunity for the Kenyan players to showcase their talent to the World. An upset win would be ideal for the team, but good individual performances could also reap definite benefits. For Kenya's players, there is certainly a lot to play for.

Looking at both teams warm up matches, neither side has so far impressed. Kenya had a disastrous quadrangular series in Nairobi, not only losing to fellow World Cup participants Pakistan and Bangladesh, but to the much less fancied Uganda as well. In the official warm up games in South Africa, New Zealand lost both their games to Australia and West Indies respectively. Kenya fared marginally better also losing to the West Indies, but gaining last-ball revenge on Bangladesh.

The in form batsmen for New Zealand are Craig McMillan, Ross Taylor and Peter Fulton who have all hit half centuries in the warm ups. New Zealand’s worry however is that no other batsmen have really contributed. Bowling wise, Shane Bond proved in the ODI World Cup that his pace will always be a worry for a weak batting team like Kenya and skipper Daniel Vettori and Chris Martin have also proved economical.

For Kenya, Kenya Tanmay Mishra and Steve Tikolo are in the best batting form, but no one has yet made a fifty for them in South Africa and the rest of the line up looks shaky. Kenya’s best chances of an upset rest on the bowlers with both Thomas Odoyo and Peter Ongondo impressing in the two games so far. Odoyo’s 2/21 was crucial in the win against Bangladesh and Ongondo has so far proved difficult to get away. Kenya’s problem is in the back up bowlers, though brothers Lameck Onyango and Nehemiah Odhiambo are beginning to show a liking for this form of the game.

Both teams are good fielding sides and as the West Indies showed in the opening match of the tournament, this is a crucial factor in a game where every run is at a premium. If Kenya are to spring an upset, much will depend on the toss and whether they are able to contain the New Zealand batsmen. As with any match up between a Test side and an Associate, it is always going to be the former that is favoured, but with such a short game it is perhaps more possible for an exceptional performance from an individual to spring an upset. Kenya will be hoping that one of their players can step up and achieve just that this morning in Durban. If they can, they will have one foot in the next round and will also have done wonders for promoting the game back home.