Super Eight action at Providence Stadium…
Ireland under no pressure against South Africa today
By Vemen Walter
Guyana Chronicle
April 3, 2007
IRELAND will certainly be under no pressure when they take on South Africa in today’s fourth match of the Guyana leg Cricket World Cup (CWC) Super Eight matches at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.
Coming into the Super Eight stage of the prestigious tournament, Ireland, playing in their debut World Cup, are perhaps least fancied to make it into the semi-finals but with nothing to lose and with an enthusiastic and determined approach, surely they shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Obviously the South Africans are going to be the ones facing the demands, since two important points are at stake and any shabby performance could very well hinder their chances of advancing into the final four.
The Proteas will be well aware of Ireland’s ability as they found out when they had a taste of them in a warm-up encounter played at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
Ireland almost clinched a shocking victory with South Africa tottering on 91 for 8 before Andrew Hall staged a revival that pushed them to 192. The Irish in reply, were on track to hit the jackpot, until their last six wickets tumbled for a mere 18 runs, thus losing by 35 runs.
South Africa would also have at the back of their minds, Ireland’s three-wicket triumph over the much-touted Pakistan in the Group Stage, which effectively sent the Pakistani crashing out of the World Cup.
Beaten by England by 48 runs a few days ago, at the same venue, in their lone Super Eight match played so far, inexperience was what really haunted Ireland, who gave a more that decent account of themselves.
Tall paceman Boyd Rankin and David Langford-Smith, skipper Trent Johnston, alongside off-spinners Kyle McCallan and Andrew White, are capable of posing problems for South Africa, whose middle order hasn’t really been clicking.
Hunting 378 for victory in their final Group A match versus Australia, South Africa were flying high in the 32nd over on 220 for 1, before collapsing to 294. In the match against Sri Lanka last Wednesday, after requiring only five runs off 31 balls with five wickets at their disposal, Lasith Malinga took four wickets in four balls and had if not for Robin Peterson edging a four to third man; South Africa would have been kicking themselves.
Undoubtedly, that is one of the problematic areas that South Africa will attempt to resolve in this game.
On the other hand, Ireland will welcome some more consistency from their batters.
Opener Jeremy Bray, who cracked a brilliant 115 at the expense of Zimbabwe, will be keen to make amends for his first-ball duck in his last outing against England, and Niall O’Brien, William Porterfield, Eoin Morgan, Kevin O’Brien, Johnston and White, will all have another opportunity to showcase their worth, opposing a potent South Africa attack that comprises top class bowlers including Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock and Charl Langeveldt who bagged five wickets against Sri Lanka.
South Africa are presently on two points after one game, occupying the fifth position in the Super Eight point standings while Ireland are one from the bottom, without a point, also from one game.
Play starts at 09:30 h. Teams:
South Africa - Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis, Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andre Hall, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince and Roger Telemachus.
Ireland – Trent Johnston (captain), Kyle McCallan, Andre Botha, Jeremy Bray, Kenneith Carroll, Peter Gillespie, Dave Langford-Smith, John Mooney, Paul Mooney, Eoin Morgan, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin and Andrew White.