CRICKET WORLD CUP:IT'S GETTING down to the business end in Group B of the World Cup and that was certainly the mood in the Ireland camp yesterday as they ramped up preparations ahead of tomorrow's must-win clash against West Indies at the PCB Stadium in Mohali.
A win for Ireland would put them into a tie for third spot in the group with tomorrow’s opponents and South Africa, while Bangladesh could even make it four teams on four points if they were to get the better of England in Chittagong.
It’s safe to say, the four qualifiers from the World Cup’s group of death look like they will eventually be decided by calculator.
It hasn’t taken a calculator to work out that one of Ireland’s key deficiencies in the tournament has been the first-wicket pairing, with skipper William Porterfield and Paul Stirling averaging just eight in the first three games, 23 of those coming in the opening game against Bangladesh.
Porterfield went first ball against England, while loose defence from Stirling saw him bowled for a duck off Zaheer Khan’s fourth delivery against India last Sunday.
And the pressure will continue tomorrow morning with the West Indies duo of paceman Kemar Roach and lanky left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn providing a unique challenge that has already proved a success in this group.
Roach has taken 10 wickets and has generated some genuine pace with the new ball, while big Benn, all 6ft 7in of him, has eight wickets in the three games.
Ed Joyce, who himself has failed to fully fire in this tournament on his return to the Ireland fold, admits the top order face another stern challenge against the Windies.
“We’ve lost wickets early on in every game so we haven’t quite got that bit right,” said Joyce, who has scored 52 runs in three innings. “So that’s obviously very important, and they’re two big bowlers as well. They’ve got other bowlers as well, but those two have got most of their wickets and done most of the damage.
“We’ve got to come up with a way of combating that and, as I say, we’re fairly confident. That doesn’t mean you’re going to do it, but we have an idea of what we’re going to do for sure.”
Although he admits he hasn’t scored the number of runs he would have liked in the tournament, the left-hander from Bray points out that, as a team, Ireland have performed well yet again on the world stage.
“It hasn’t gone quite to plan for me in the first three games. But I’d take nought in the next few games if we win two or three of them,” was his honest assessment.
“It’s definitely a team effort more than an individual thing, so if we’re doing well and I’m not doing well, that’s fine by me. Obviously I’d like to put in a big performance in a win, so hopefully it will come on Friday.”
Both sides have injury problems, with West Indies losing a number of players before the tournament started and then key all-rounder Dwayne Bravo in their loss to South Africa, while, for Ireland, Andre Botha and Trent Johnston have shipped knocks.
Botha’s groin strain has eased and he looks likely to be fit, with the main worry concerning Johnston, who suffered heavy bruising to his right kneecap in a heavy fall in the game against India.
“TJ is a massive player for us, so ideally he’ll play,” admitted Joyce. “I believe he’s responding pretty well to treatment so that’s a good sign, and he’s a pretty tough guy, so hopefully if he’s even 80 per cent he’d be fit to play and get out there.”
If Johnston does miss out, Botha looks likely to replace him as the only change from the loss to India, with Alex Cusack or possibly Kevin O’Brien taking the new ball alongside Boyd Rankin.
And despite failing to take a wicket in the first three games, Joyce believes the 6ft 8in Warwickshire seamer has finally found his rhythm ahead of playing on a Mohali wicket that is expected to offer him that bit of extra bounce.
“When (Rankin) came back (against India) the ball was doing a little bit and he just hit his back of a length spot. He’s a big man, so he’s hard work if he gets it right and he’s a massive player for us. It’s great to see him coming in at this stage of the tournament with a bit of form.”
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The mystery of Niall O’Brien’s missing bats was solved late last night after they turned up among the India kit in Delhi.
Five of the six bats mislaid in Bangalore have been found, although they won’t be reunited with the left-hander in time for the clash against West Indies. They will be shipped on to Calcutta, where Ireland play South African and the Netherlands next week.
IRELAND v WEST INDIES: PREVIOUS MEETINGS
March 23rd 2007, World Cup, Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
BOTH SIDES had already qualified for the Super Eights stages of the World Cup, but the two points on offer for a win would carry through to the next round.
Missing captain Trent Johnston because of a shoulder injury, Ireland put in a rather listless performance. It was no surprise really given the drama of the earlier tie against Zimbabwe and the win against Pakistan and all that followed with the death of the Pakistan coach, Bob Woolmer.
Opening bat Jeremy Bray followed up his century against Zimbabwe with a top score of 41, but Ireland could only manage 183 for eight in 48 overs after a rain delay.
Set a target of 190, the home side knocked them off with 10 overs to spare thanks to a wonderful unbeaten century from left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
IRELAND 183-8(48 ovs) (Jeremy Bray 41, Andre Botha 28, Kyle McCallan 20 not out; Chris Gayle 2-23, Daren Powell 2-24, Dwayne Bravo 2-35), WEST INDIES(D/L target of 190 in 48 overs) 190-2 (38.1 ovs) (Shivnarine Chanderpaul 102 not out, Ramnaresh Sarwan 36, Marlon Samuels 27 not out). West Indies won by 8 wickets.
April 15th 2010, Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica
ANOTHER GUYANESE batsman was to do for Ireland three years on from the sides’ World Cup meeting at the same ground, with Ramnaresh Sarwan matching Chanderpaul’s unbeaten century in a six-wicket win.
Again, Ireland failed to post a strong target despite fine half-centuries from teenager Paul Stirling (51) and Kevin O’Brien, who showed his big-hitting with 54 off 52 balls, including two sixes. Older brother Niall also chipped in with 49 on the ground where he put Pakistan to the sword, but there were not enough contributions from the rest as Ireland could post only 219.
Ireland reduced the hosts to one for two thanks to wickets for Trent Johnston and Peter Connell, but Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine (57) shared a 111-run stand for the fourth wicket as the Windies reached their rain-revised total of 190 with an over to spare.
IRELAND 219(50 ovs) (Paul Stirling 51, Kevin O'Brien 54, Niall O'Brien 49; David Bernard 3-32, Sulieman Benn 2-29, Ravi Rampaul 2-54), WEST INDIES(D/L target of 213 in 45 ovs) 213-4 (44 ovs) (Ramnaresh Sarwan 100 not out, Narsingh Deonarine 57). West Indies won by 6 wickets.
