Tuesday, March 15, 2011

South Africa hope to avoid Irish surprise as the Irish seek to repeat giant-killing act

 

 

Click above to watch LIVE match on your PC

  

Click above to watch LIVE match on your Mobile

  

Match Facts


March 15, Kolkata
Start time 2.30 pm (0900 GMT)

 

 

 

 

The Big Picture


 

 

As the tournament heads to its business end, it is fair to say that things have gone to plan. This was supposed to be the tougher of the two groups, and has proved to be so. South Africa generally play to potential in the league stages of the World Cup, as they have done this time as well. They have mostly been in control, and the almost-mandatory "wobble", to use a substitute for that word, has been put out of the way against England. Ireland were expected to punch way above their weight as the leading Associate side, and have done exactly that.


Scorecard and ball-by-ball details 

Click above to watch the highlights

 

Having shocked England, and given a fright to West Indies and India, they would be cursing themselves for the collapse while chasing a gettable target against Bangladesh. But when they walk out on the hallowed Eden Gardens turf tomorrow, Ireland will do so knowing this will be their toughest test of the tournament. The other big sides in the group have the tendency to leave an opening here and there for teams to try and claw back, but when South Africa close the door on their opponents, it shuts tight with cold finality.

South Africa will be pleased that a cog of their wheel that had come apart against England, the lower middle-order, stood up well under pressure against India. They wouldn't want it to be on trial against Ireland though, and would want to seal the quarter-final berth with a clinical win.

 

 

 

  

 

Watch out for...


 

 

Dale Steyn brought South Africa back against a rampant India in a controlled display of fast bowling, mixing slower ones with reverse-swinging yorkers. Graeme Smith looks to his premier fast bowler whenever he wants a crucial breakthrough, and more often than not, Steyn delivers. On a pitch that is expected to aid the seamers, getting past Steyn without much damage would be the first of Ireland's headaches.

Kevin O' Brien showed what he is capable of against England. He has had a couple of quiet games after that record-breaking innings. He will enjoy batting as well as bowling on this surface. Without his spark in the middle order, Ireland lack the big finish when they bat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team news

 

 

South Africa (probable): 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers / Colin Ingram, 5 JP Duminy, 6 Faf du Plessis, 7 Morne van Wyk (wk), 8 Johan Botha / Lonwabo Tsotsobe, 9 Robin Peterson, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Morne Morkel

Trent Johnston missed out against West Indies with a knee injury he sustained during the India game but is mostly expected to play, having trained today. Andre Botha is on the doubtful list, down with a stomach bug.

Ireland (possible): 1 William Porterfield (capt), 2 Paul Stirling, 3 Ed Joyce, 4 Niall O'Brien (wk), 5 Gary Wilson, 6 Kevin O'Brien, 7 Alex Cusack, 8 John Mooney, 9 Trent Johnston, 10 George Dockrell, 11 Boyd Rankin

 

 

 

 

Click above to watch LIVE match and Highlights on your Mobile

  

Stats


 

     

     

  • South Africa have won both their previous ODIs against Ireland, including one during the Super Eights stage of the 2007 World Cup

     

     

  • The last World Cup match at Eden Gardens was India's ill-fated semi-final against Sri Lanka

     

     

  • Six of the 11 decided day-night games at Eden Gardens have been won by the side batting first

     

     

 

 

Quotes


 

 

"He can come off on any given day. He's had a couple of low scores but he hasn't faced many balls. He hasn't been struggling in the nets and he hasn't been struggling for form."
William Porterfield isn't too bothered by Kevin O'Brien's lean returns after that century against England

"We're not planning on tickling anything. We are aware of what Ireland can do and we've prepared for that. We're impressed with everything they have done in this tournament so far."
Corrie van Zyl, when asked if South Africa would "tickle" the line-up

 

No comments:

Post a Comment