CRICKET WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS:IRELAND WILL be aiming to take a full quota of points through to the super-eight stage of the World Cup Qualifiers with a victory over Canada at Willowmoore Park in Benoni today. The sides are unbeaten in their first three games in Group A, with Ireland wrapping up a spot in the second stage with a six-wicket victory over Uganda in Krugersdorp on Saturday to lead the way at the top.
With points gained from matches against the other three Group A qualifiers carrying through, a victory today will provide a huge boost as Phil Simmons’s side chase down one of the four spots in the 2011 World Cup.
Veteran spinner Andrew White was man of the match on Saturday, chalking up his best international figures with four wickets for 22 runs on his 125th appearance. Uganda were bowled out for 155 in the 45th over, with Boyd Rankin picking up two wickets, while Alex Cusack, Kevin O’Brien and Regan West claimed a victim each.
Ireland’s openers had made it to 68 in the 12th over before skipper William Porterfield fell for 44. Fellow opener Gary Wilson would go on to make a half-century before departing for 61, leaving Niall O’Brien (24 not out) to see Ireland home alongside younger brother Kevin, who hit a six off the second ball he faced to wrap up matters with 19 overs to spare.
Canada’s John Davison showed his devastating ability with the bat on Saturday, hitting 131 off 99 balls in their 141-run routing of Namibia. Geoff Barnett and Sunil Dhaniram have also scored centuries in their opening games, while in former Lahore player Khurram Chauhan they look to have found a very promising opening bowler.
Ireland will go into the game with great confidence, with five of the top-order having scored half-centuries. It’s that added strength-in-depth that should tip the balance in their favour.
