Gearing up for their 4th Group B encounter of the ICC Cricket World Cup, Ireland are getting all the respect from the unpredictable West Indies.
After shock win against England at M Chinnaswamy stadium and making India sweat at the same venue, the William Porterfield-led side has surely made its presence felt in the showpiece event.
Windies though, who have mercilessly thrashed Netherlands and Bangladesh, will be a tough nut to crack for the Irish side.
The two sides have met thrice in ODIs, with Windies winning 2 matches and no result coming out of one game.
Apart from their 8-wicket win at the World Cup on March 23 in Kingston 2007, Windies defeated Ireland by 6 wickets at the same venue on April 15, 2010. The Dublin ODI on July 14, 2007 could not produce a result.
But, if one keeps aside the reputation of the two sides, then one can expect a lively keenly contested match on a lively Mohali wicket.
Windies, who had a good net session on Thursday, have a great mix of players in their side. If pacer Kemar Roach is in top form then Suleiman Benn provides the necessary fillip in the spin department.
However, if captain Darren Sammy and Chris Gayle manage to pep up the batting order, the maroon brigade can surely walk home smiling.
Ireland, apart from their top notch fielding, have a good variety in the bowling department. If Boyd Rankin and Trent Johnston provide the necessary breakthrough on the pace front, then left-arm spinner George Dockrell and off-spinner Paul Stirling are capable of exploiting the sub-continent conditions.
And if Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien and Porterfield get going then Ireland sure have a great chance of creating another big upset of the 2011 edition.
Win or lose, Ireland are sure looking to give the Mohali crowd their money's worth. So come Friday and brace yourself for another interesting encounter.
After shock win against England at M Chinnaswamy stadium and making India sweat at the same venue, the William Porterfield-led side has surely made its presence felt in the showpiece event.
Windies though, who have mercilessly thrashed Netherlands and Bangladesh, will be a tough nut to crack for the Irish side.
The two sides have met thrice in ODIs, with Windies winning 2 matches and no result coming out of one game.
Apart from their 8-wicket win at the World Cup on March 23 in Kingston 2007, Windies defeated Ireland by 6 wickets at the same venue on April 15, 2010. The Dublin ODI on July 14, 2007 could not produce a result.
But, if one keeps aside the reputation of the two sides, then one can expect a lively keenly contested match on a lively Mohali wicket.
Windies, who had a good net session on Thursday, have a great mix of players in their side. If pacer Kemar Roach is in top form then Suleiman Benn provides the necessary fillip in the spin department.
However, if captain Darren Sammy and Chris Gayle manage to pep up the batting order, the maroon brigade can surely walk home smiling.
Ireland, apart from their top notch fielding, have a good variety in the bowling department. If Boyd Rankin and Trent Johnston provide the necessary breakthrough on the pace front, then left-arm spinner George Dockrell and off-spinner Paul Stirling are capable of exploiting the sub-continent conditions.
And if Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien and Porterfield get going then Ireland sure have a great chance of creating another big upset of the 2011 edition.
Win or lose, Ireland are sure looking to give the Mohali crowd their money's worth. So come Friday and brace yourself for another interesting encounter.
