ICC World Cup Group Game 5: Ireland v Zimbabwe @ Kingston (Thu/Fri)

[Russian]

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6052/cwcnh4.gif

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/9976/ire9st.gif vs http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/9281/zimcl6.gif

SabinaPark, Kingston, Jamaica

1:30am AEDT Friday March 16


Should be a good contest in Jamaica between the improving Zimbabwe and Ireland, arguably the most talented of the qualifiers.

Ireland’s weakness is their bowling, their lowest ODI score is 240 against Scotland, with Scotland managing only 155 in reply, but in other games where results were achieved they’ve conceded at least 260. Consequently they have only two wins to their names, but the good news is their bowlers were pretty economical in the warmup games here, lead by Dave Langford-Smith’s 7/71 and fellow Australian Trent Johnston’s 5/58. No clear winner in Paul Mooney’s personal battle with youngster Boyd Rankin but the more experienced player will probably win that last spot in the first Irish World Cup side. Bray, Porterfield, Botha and Kevin O’Brien all showed what they can do in the warmup games, while Carroll’s 1 and White’s duck ensured they don’t come into consideration, while Peter Gillespie didn’t get a bat to push for a chance at his first ODI run.

Williams and Matsikenyeri were the stars of the warm ups for the Africans, with Utseya the pick of the bowlers despite only gathering one wicket. Rainsford was the most disappointing of the bowlers while Kasteni sat out both games suggesting he’s no chance of taking part here for the side whose campaign in the second stage of the tournament for the first time end in southern Africa four years ago today.

Brian Jerling umpires his fiftieth game alongside Ian Gould, whose 7 World Cup games put him 6 ahead of the two squads combined, with Stuart Matsikenyeri’s one game against Sri Lanka in Zimbabwe’s last World Cup game the only one played by any of the 30 players.

Ireland XV: William Porterfield, +Jeremy Bray, Kenneth Carroll, Eoin Morgan, +Niall O’Brien, Kevin O’Brien, Peter Gillespie, *Trent Johnston, Kyle McCallan, Andrew White, John Mooney, Dave Langford-Smith, Paul Mooney, Andre Botha, Boyd Rankin

Zimbabwe XV: Terry Duffin, Vusi Sibanda, Justice Chibhabha, Sean Williams, Friday Kasteni, Stuart Matsikenyeri, +Brendan Taylor, Elton Chigumbura, Keith Dabengwa, Gary Brent, *Prosper Utseya, Tawanda Mupariwa, Chris Mpofu, Anthony Ireland, Ed Rainsford

Umpires: Brian Jerling (South Africa), Ian Gould (England), Billy Bowden (3rd, New Zealand)

Weather:
Chance of showers, 30 degrees

Coverage:
http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/7499/fs1af0.gif – live from 1:15am AEDT
and Cricinfo (http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/247461.html)’s ball by ball text commentary

Session Times:
First innings: 1:30-5:00am
Second innings: 5:45-9:15am

Betting:
Zimbabwe - $1.50
Ireland - $2.50
Zimbabwe Most Runs
Chibhabha - $4.50
Sibanda - $5
Williams - $5
Duffin - $5.50
Kasteni - $8
Matsikenyeri - $8
Taylor - $9
Chigumbura - $11
Utseya - $17
Dabengwa - $21
Ireland - $67
Brent - $67
Mupariwa - $81
Mpofu - $101
Rainsford - $151
Ireland Most Runs
Porterfield - $4.50
Morgan - $4.50
Bray - $5
N O’Brien - $6.50
Carroll - $7
K O’Brien - $7.50
Gillespie - $11
Botha - $13
McCallan - $15
Johnston - $17
White - $17
P Mooney - $41
J Mooney - $51
Langford-Smith - $67
Rankin - $151
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/2811/tabln1.gif

[My North]

I think there is a chance that Pakistian will miss out to qualify for the Quarter final so whoever wins this game be the 2nd team to qualify in the group. Be good for both countires to win this game, for cricket in general

[sainters]

Ive tipped Ireland for a minor upset here, Zimbabwe cricket has been ruined by politics, thus are heading into the world cup with an unsettled line up.

[davidgoes4wce]

i backed Ireland last week @ 7/4 and im happy with that but shall also look to play in running imo Ireland are good value @ 2.8 which gives them a 35% chance on the book i believe the odds should be much more like evens the 2 -Zim have been in dissaray since disputes and won only one of their last 10 all against Bangla- Ireland recent form not much better against lesser opossition won 3 out of last ten 1 n/r however they gave Saffers a scare in the warm up and have some decent players i suppose it comes down to how far you think Zim have fallen- having seen them in a recent tour of Windies im happy to oppose them at these prices
re toss last 10 odis at Sabina park winning team have lost toss 6 times and been inserted 5 times and won toss the other 4 batting 1st once and 2nd 3 times so in total teams batting 1st won 6 times and 2nd 4 times -so it doesnt appear to be much of an issue

[davidgoes4wce]

ireland are good value tommorrow.

zim are very inexperienced, they will expect to win this game and might well be a touch complacent, and if ireland can put them under pressure i dont think the young zims will respond too well. They only have one player who has played in a previous world cup.

ireland have a couple of aussies with decent experience down under, eion morgan and niall o brien with plenty of county experience and they have played a lot of cricket together recently and i know they are bang up for this fixture.

[davidgoes4wce]

Toss is key here. Irish new ball strength could pay dividends if Zim bat first.

[Smokin_Joe]

Anthony Ireland v Ireland...corny i know but still worth a laugh.

[eddiesmith]

What an exciting night :rolleyes:

Surely the morons who put together the schedule could have put atleast 1 good game on each night, as it stands there are nights with 2 good games and others with 0 :thumbsd:

[ShearMagic9]

Go Ireland!!! :p

[Ron]

I've put a bit of cash on Ireland as i reckon they have a bit of a chance here.
Got them at odds of $2.55 so i reckon it was worth a crack.

[davidgoes4wce]

Agree got on Ireland at 2.60

zimbabwe are by far the weakest of the current test playing nations.

ireland is on the up and they seem to have a pretty familiar team structure having played together for approximately a year now.

[Mr P@H]

Anthony Ireland v Ireland...corny i know but still worth a laugh.

Not playing was injured. Eoin Morgan out, after a good partnership, edged to slip.

[krisholio14]

bray is going to have to hang in and get a ton if ireland is gonna win this from here.

[krisholio14]

ireland 5/131 off 35. ordinary run rate, the irish are truggling to get the zimbo spinners away. however they are maintaining wickets and bray is still there on 71*

[Mr P@H]

Paddies doing well... If they can get something out of this pitch and Johnston/DL-S can bowl well they'll be in with a shout with a score of 210ish.

[krisholio14]

unlucky for the irish. rain has stopped play just as they were starting to lift the rate. its 6/170 after 42.2, with bray still going beautifully on 87*

[krisholio14]

oh dear. stupid run out right when the irish were starting to go the tonk.

bray 91*, could help push this to around 220.

7/182 of 44

[krisholio14]

and now theyve lost another. 8/182, and it looks like bray may even miss out on his ton here all of a sudden....

they have got to get this to 210 to have any chance i feel.

[Ron]

Well done Bray, fine innings.

Now go on and help your team win.

[krisholio14]

magnificent ton by bray has given the irish every possible chance in this game. they are now 8/200 after 48 overs. if they can get 210 to 220 i give them a huge show.

[krisholio14]

wonderful effort by the irish to force it to 9/221 at the end of their 50 overs.

major kudos must go to opener jeremy bray, who on debut in a world cup has scored a marvellous 115*, carrying his bat thru the innings.

the irish can win this from here, and a couple of early wickets in the zimbo innings would go a long way to acheving what would be a glorious victory.

[krisholio14]

zimbos 0/24 off four, and the irish lads arent bowling well at all.

[krisholio14]

rankin gets the breakthrough, zimbos now 1/26 off 6, duffin out.

[krisholio14]

ireland needs another wicket, preferrably sibanda, who is looking very dangerous. as it stands, zimbos 1/55 off 11, vusi with 38* off 36, and chibhabha yet to score.

[ShearMagic9]

Zimbos 92-1 after 20.4

Edit: Chibhabha gets out next ball. Not really the man they wanted but its a wicket nonetheless

[krisholio14]

irish really need a couple of wickets, and quickly

[davidgoes4wce]

Yes baby

GOOOOOOONE

[ShearMagic9]

What the hell was Williams thinking?

[Mr P@H]

The Paddies having a real good time like the Jocks, amazing support for these nations compared to what i've seen from Aus/SL

[Mr P@H]

Big couple of wicket for MCallan, a Hit wicket and a caught, 89 needed and 5 wickets left, could be a cluose'un, C'mon the Paddies!

[PHX]

Cmon Ireland!

[MRobbo]

Zimbabwe 5/169 from 38 overs
need 53 from 72 balls

Matsikinyeri 43*
Taylor 9*

[PHX]

Its gonna be close. I think they'll be alot of nervous people with big bets on this. :)

[kenrosewall]

Has anyone got a website link for coverage of this match?

[MRobbo]

Zimbabwe 5/175 from 40 overs
need 47 from 60 balls

Matsikinyeri 43*
Taylor 13*

Ireland lost a few close games in ICC World Cricket League in Kenya at the start of the year this looks like it will be close as well.

[Mr P@H]

Zims'll win but Ireland have not disgraced themselves, had a few close run outs, someone got a century, ground fielding has been fairly good, bowling has been ok, still got a lot of young guys who could be around by the time of the next WC so they could go far.

[ShearMagic9]

Dropped catches will hurt them in the end though

[ShearMagic9]

Taylor out now.

Is there still a chance for Ireland?

[MRobbo]

Is there still a chance for Ireland?

As much as I would like to say yes, I don't think so.

Zimbabwe 6/208 from 45 overs
need 14 from 30 balls

Matsikenyeri 64*
Brent 1*

1 run from the last over

[MRobbo]

Zimbabwe 6/210 from 46 overs
need 12 from 24 balls

Matsikenyeri 65*
Brent 2*

[MRobbo]

Zimbabwe 6/212 from 47 overs
need 10 from 18 balls

Matsikenyeri 66*
Brent 3*

[MRobbo]

Zimbabwe 7/212 from 47.3 overs
need 10 from 15 balls

Matsikenyeri 66*
Brent lbw Botha 3

Ireland still a big chance

[MRobbo]

Zimbabwe 7/213 from 48 overs
need 9 from 12 balls

Matsikenyeri 66*
Utseya 1*

Great over from Botha 1/1 off the over

[MRobbo]

Utseya OUT

Zimbabwe 8/213 from 48.1 overs
need 9 from 11 balls

Utseya c Morgan b O'Brien 1
Matsikenyeri 66*

[ShearMagic9]

Very very interesting.

All of the Zimbabwe blokes coming in look like spuds.

Looks like its all down to Matskiyeri (or whatever)

[MRobbo]

Zimbabwe 9/213 from 49 overs
need 9 from 6 balls

Matsikenyeri 66*
Mpofu run out 0

What an over WICKET MAIDEN by O'Brien

[ShearMagic9]

If Ireland win it will cheer me up a bit.

[MRobbo]

Zimbabwe 9/215 from 49.1 overs
need 7 from 5 balls

Matsikenyeri 68*
Rainsford 0*

[MRobbo]

Zimbabwe 9/218 from 49.3 overs
need 4 from 3 balls

Matsikenyeri 69*
Rainsford 0* (has strike)

[MRobbo]

Zimbabwe 9/219 from 49.4 overs
need 3 from 2 balls

Matsikenyeri 69*
Rainsford 1*

[ShearMagic9]

3 from 2.

This is intense.

[MRobbo]

Zimbabwe 9/221 from 49.5 overs (scores level)
need 1 from 1 ball

Matsikenyeri 71*
Rainsford 1*

[ShearMagic9]

Its a tie.

Haha, Ireland celebrating like a win. Gotta love it.

Great stuff.

[Mr P@H]

Great tie Oireland, against a test nation it's as good as win!

[MRobbo]

Rainsford Run Out

MATCH TIED

Zimbabwe all out for 221 from 50 overs

What a game of cricket

3rd tie in world cup history

[Mr P@H]

And Eddie said only boring game are on today, best game of ODI cricket i've seen for a while, you can keep your 400+ and your all out for 90. Ties are where it's at.

[usalion]

Good to see- been busy with NCAA basketball and setting up for a baseball draft here, so not really in touch- but those last couple of overs will surely be available online soon....sounds a cracking match...and what a lead in to St Paddy's Day- bet their supporters will be enjoying some Carribean beverages this evening

Mr. P@H- take eddie at face value at your own peril....:D

[Andrew Mc]

Its a tie.

Haha, Ireland celebrating like a win. Gotta love it.

Great stuff.

Would have loved to see them win, but a tie is pretty damm good. St Patricks day tomorrow will be a big one for the squad I think.

[Romeo]

Wow what a finish, I had to tune out when it was 6/210. Gives both countries points, Pakistan wouldn't want to slip up or have a D/L etc.

[ShearMagic9]

Haha Pakistan bottom of the group.

Good to see

[Mr P@H]

Wow what a finish, I had to tune out when it was 6/210. Gives both countries points, Pakistan wouldn't want to slip up or have a D/L etc.

I don't think there can be any D/L's, Reserve days have been put aside, only 2-3 consecutive days of rain would cause a D/L

[Mr P@H]

"Blarney Army" LMAO

[ShearMagic9]

I might put a bit on Ireland to beat Pakistan.

[MRobbo]

Man of the Match: Jeremy Bray(Ireland) for his great century

[Mr P@H]

Who presents the games in Aus anyway? We had Colville today (I expect Willis and Gower are travelling to St Lucia for the England game) I presume you have the same commentary.

[Don Draper]

Good on Ireland for getting at least a tie and celebrating it like a win. It was the game that before the match a win could of been on the cards.

You must now say that Zimbabwe should be considered a minow and international status revoked. They are terrible and it will take years for them to recover, if at all.

-Mav

[gillyrulz]

very good game......... i wish ireland won though.......... i want them to make super 8's................. the almost beat RSA in a practice match and now tied with the zimbo's.......... carn ireland... beat the paki's

[peternorth]

It's a TIE!!

Reminds me of the umpy who umpired the tied test in madras (when deano spewed). He said when the appeal went up from the aussies the umpy yells out "ITS A TIE ITS A TIE!!"

[Thelionsrule]

Good on you Ireland!! You showed that FOOL PONTING that the "minows" should be in the "WORLD" Cup!

[RoosterLad]

What a result... i would have thought Ireland would beat the Zimmers as they seem like a decent team but i guess both teams are very even. Hopefully at least one, if not both, can beat those cheating Pakis.

[red+black]

Good on you Ireland!! You showed that FOOL PONTING that the "minows" should be in the "WORLD" Cup!

WTF are you on about? A minnow tied with another minnow. Both are unworthy.

But well done to Ireland anyway.

[RoosterLad]

WTF are you on about? A minnow tied with another minnow. Both are unworthy.

But well done to Ireland anyway.

Ignore that cretin, every single post he/she has made on the cricket board has been about how crap Ponting is.

[krisholio14]

great stuff by the irish to hold their nerve. to lose 4/11 in the last 4 overs is nothing short of disgraceful by the zimbos.

[eddiesmith]

And Eddie said only boring game are on today, best game of ODI cricket i've seen for a while, you can keep your 400+ and your all out for 90. Ties are where it's at.
I didnt say boring, I was more referring to little interest in either game on tonight, this game wont affect the Super 8's and neither would the other game as it was always going to be so 1 sided

On Sunday night we got the Aussies and England on at the same time, then you have nights like last night where its minnows on both stations, they should have done a better schedule

[RoosterLad]

Aussies and Poms should be on Saturday night.

[WeSt CoAsT EaGLeS]

Zimbabwe should be ashamed. Ireland, making their debut caused a huge upset.

[red+black]

As long as the World Cup already is, it's a shame that the minnows don't have their own Super Eights so we can see who rules the roost amongst them. I'd go for Bangladesh then Kenya, and Zimbabwe would be no guarantee for 3rd, although their experience would probably get them over the line against the other 5 countries.

[davidgoes4wce]

WTF are you on about? A minnow tied with another minnow. Both are unworthy.

But well done to Ireland anyway.

The only way for these weaker nations to get better I feel, is for them to play more matches against the stronger nations. Im all for one Ireland getting ODI status up until 2009 champions trophy, and you can see Ireland getting better playing the likes of England, Zimbabwe, South Africa of late.

It takes time for them to get their feet settled, but look at Bangladesh as an example, no one is really talking them up as a minnow any more. They are a dark horse in their group with India and Sri Lanka.

[red+black]

Zimbabwe is the big concern right now, and has been for years.

They should have been stripped of their Test status years ago and only reinstated once Mugabe is dead.

It was just at the last World Cup that Olonga had to escape amid fears of being killed if he returned. There was even talk of hitmen being sent to England to hunt him down. And IIRC none of the Zimbabwean players were even paid for playing at the 2003 World Cup.

[RoosterLad]

The Opposition Leader is Zimbabwe was recently bashed as well.

[red+black]

The Opposition Leader is Zimbabwe was recently bashed as well.

He wasn't bashed. Reports were that they just had a quiet word with him.

[Romeo]

Reading this, who are we to deny the minnows their moment in the sun? A tie meant so much to the Irish and I noticed quite a few of them in the crowd all decked out in their home colours.


Debut draw leaves Ireland skipper dazed
March 16 2007 at 07:15AM By Simon Evans

Kingston - A dazed and emotional Ireland captain Trent Johnston could hardly believe what he had witnessed after his team fought back for a thrilling tie with Zimbabwe in their World Cup debut on Thursday.

Ireland made 221 for nine, with Jeremy Bray scoring an unbeaten 115, before a dramatic finale saw them claim four wickets and restrict their opponents to just 12 runs off the final four overs.

Johnston said the entire day, with hundreds of Irish fans singing and cheering in Sabina Park had been hard to take in.

'The first hour was surreal'"The first hour was surreal - just being at the World Cup, seeing the cameras and the fans going crazy - it was just an unbelievable experience and it is just going to get better," the Australian-born Johnston told a news conference.

Ireland face Pakistan on Saturday and then hosts West Indies in their remaining Group D games in the Jamaican capital.top.DisplayAds('SquarLAV',12,17);

"We've come here to promote cricket in Ireland and we have shown there is good cricket in Ireland and given people an entertaining game to watch," he added.

Johnston was full of praise for his side, singling out the approach of the bowlers of the dramatic final two overs - medium pacer Kevin O'Brien and off-spinner Andrew White.

"They are two gutsy cricketers," said Johnston, "There was no shake of the head when I threw them the ball and that is what this team is all about and why we can hang tough like that," he added.

"I thought 221 was enough but of course it depended on how we bowled but I knew if we could squeeze them we could put them under pressure.

"We got a bit of luck when (Brendan) Taylor was run out and that was the lifeline we needed," said the Irish skipper referring to the dismissal of Zimbabwe's wicketkeeper when the African appeared to be heading comfortably to victory.

"We squeezed them and then the bowling at the end was outstanding in the last eight overs," he added.

Ireland's performance was accompanied by plenty of singing and dancing from a high-spirited travelling support and even though the crowd barely passed 2 000 Johnston said they had made a difference.

"We knew they were coming and there will be more coming for the game on Saturday. They cheered every dot ball and bit of fielding. They were liked 12th and 13th men for us. That is what got us home in the last few overs," he said. - Reuters

[Ron]

I bet the Zimbabwe players will lose their state sponsored cars after this.
Apparently the Zim government is unhappy with their performances recently.
Too bad it was the government that caused Zimbabwe cricket to go into meltdown.

[Mr P@H]

a few of them in the crowd all decked out in their home colours.

A few??? There were loads, probably in the majority! apparently they all came over from the Cayman Islands.

[Mr P@H]

He wasn't bashed. Reports were that they just had a quiet word with him.


A quiet word in his shell like?

[NSWCROW]

Haha Pakistan bottom of the group.

Good to see
How do you say " sucked in dogs !!!! " in URDU ???

[Marklar_33]

i backed Ireland last week @ 7/4 and im happy with that but shall also look to play in running imo Ireland are good value @ 2.8 which gives them a 35% chance on the book i believe the odds should be much more like evens the 2 -Zim have been in dissaray since disputes and won only one of their last 10 all against Bangla- Ireland recent form not much better against lesser opossition won 3 out of last ten 1 n/r however they gave Saffers a scare in the warm up and have some decent players i suppose it comes down to how far you think Zim have fallen- having seen them in a recent tour of Windies im happy to oppose them at these prices
re toss last 10 odis at Sabina park winning team have lost toss 6 times and been inserted 5 times and won toss the other 4 batting 1st once and 2nd 3 times so in total teams batting 1st won 6 times and 2nd 4 times -so it doesnt appear to be much of an issue

Good call :thumbsu:

[lyall]

Ireland for the super 8s!!!

[red+black]

Come on Mods. Unsticky this.