An important match for Ireland tomorrow, if they’re to progress to the next stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. They face the West Indies in Mohali. It’s a day match so the starting time here is around 4am. Don’t expect live-blogging…
RTÉ’s preview focuses on the West Indies coach Ottis Gibson’s approach to the game, whilst the BBC seeks the view of Ireland’s coach, former West Indies player, Phil Simmons.
As ESPNCricinfo’s preview notes
In a keenly-contested Group where the fight for a berth in the quarter-finals is of greater intensity than the other, Friday’s fixture will have a significant bearing on who goes through to the knockouts from this half. A win for West Indies will be a consolidation – a preparation for bigger tests that await them against India and England. A win for Ireland will put them in an excellent position to realise their pre-tournament objective of making it to the next stage, with a game against Netherlands, whom they’ll expect to beat, in hand.
Update Ireland won the toss and decided to field. West Indies set a big total for Ireland to chase despite being 142 for 3 from 35 overs. Pollard made 94 runs from 55 balls and opener Smith made 107.
West Indies 275 all out from 50 overs.
Ireland innings. 276 to win. Cricinfo over-by-over coverage.
Stirling c Sammy b Benn 5 from 6 balls. FoW 6 for 1 from 1.4 overs
Porterfield c sub (Rampaul) b Sammy 12 from 34 balls. FoW 42 for 2 from 11.6 overs
N O’Brien b Benn25 from 31 balls. FoW 86 for 3 from 20.6 overs
Joyce b Russell 84 (106b 9×4 0x6). FoW 177 for 4 from 37.3 overs
KJ O’Brien c Pollard b Sammy 5 (9b 0x4 0x6). FoW 187 for 5 from 39.4 overs
Wilson lbw b Sammy 61 (62b 6×4 1×6). FoW 199 for 6 from 41.4 overs
Cusack st †Thomas b Benn 2 (15m 5b 0x4 0x6). FoW 199 for 7 from 42.2 overs
Botha run out 0 (7b 0x4 0x6). FoW 201 for 8 from 43.4 overs
Mooney b Roach 6 (7b 1×4 0x6). FoW 215 for 9 from 45.5 overs
Dockrell b Benn 19 (19b 3×4 0x6). FoW 231 all out from 49 overs
Ireland 231 all out from 49 overs.
West Indies win by 44 runs.
Good effort by Ireland chasing a big target. Pollard made the difference in the West Indies batting.
Joyce and Wilson stand out in the Irish batting, with an honourable mention for Dockerell. But the West Indies bowling of Sammy, Russell and Benn put paid to any chance of an upset. But then there’s that umpiring call…
