MIKE HENDRICK believes Ireland have found the right formula and can spin their way into the 1999 World Cup finals via a top three finish in the ICC Trophy.
Every tournament hides a key to success as Sri Lanka showed when pinch hitting their way to victory in last year's World Cup. Australia's team effort and fielding had overcome better opposition in 1987, and the individual skills of Pakistan proved to be the winning factor five years later when Mushtaq Ahmed and Wasim Akram outwitted England.
On the slow surfaces of Malaysia, Hendrick, the Ireland coach, is placing his faith in the four man spin attack that held the USA in check on Thursday to set up the win that should be enough to ensure a place in the last eight.
Hendrick said: "It's not a tournament for seamers. The ball is difficult to control when it swings, the umpires are very strict on wides, and the bowlers also have to contend with wet hands. "On slow pitches like these with big outfields the spinners are hard to get away and if batters try to go over the top it's a risk."
Ireland will therefore retain Greg Molins, of the Carlisle club, as the left arm foil to off spinners Neil Doak, Decker Curry and Garfield Harrison in their weekend games against Kenya and Singapore. A pre planned reception at the Irish Embassy after the USA game allowed players to enjoy their success with a drop of stout prior to a day off yesterday.
The Americans had also planned a traditional celebration. AS Ireland stuttered in mid innings on Thursday, two headscarved Moslem girls arrived on motor cycles with a large dressing, room order for pizzas.
