ICC Cricket World Cup 2011: West Indies vs Ireland Cricket World Cup 2011

WEST INDIES will take on Ireland in their fourth match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Friday, November 11.

The Group 'B' match between West Indies and Ireland will start at 9:30 in the morning.

The Caribbean team under the leadership of captain Darren Sammy, started their World Cup 2011 campaign against South Africa. West Indies lost that match by seven wickets. In the next two matches against Netherlands and Bangladesh, West Indies won a one-sided game.

First West Indies thrashed Netherlands by 215 runs at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi on February 28 and then routed co-host Bangladesh at their home ground by nine wickets. They packed up the Bangladeshi innings for just 58 runs in 18.5 overs.

West Indies young pacer Kemar Roach has claimed 10 wickets in three matches with a hat-trick.

Ireland started their ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 journey with a 27 runs defeat against Bangladesh. In the next match, they upset English team and beat them by three wickets. The Irish batsman Kevin O'Brian scored the fastest hundred in World Cups. In their third match, the Irish team lost to India by five wickets, but they fought brilliantly.

West Indies and Ireland have played three matches so far with each other and the record is in favour of Caribbeans by 2-0. They first met during the 2007 World Cup where West Indies won by 8 wickets and in the last meeting West Indies won by 6 wickets.

Here are the West Indies and Ireland squads for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011:

West Indies: Darren Sammy (Capt), Chris Gayle, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith, Sulieman Benn, Nikita Miller, Andre Rusell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kirk Edwards, Devon Thomas (wk).

Ireland: William Porterfield (capt), Trent Johnston, Alex Cusack, Andre Botha,  Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien (wk), Nigel Jones, Ed Joyce, John Mooney, Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson (wk), George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin, Albert van der Merwe, Andrew White.

West Indies vs Ireland: World Cup Match Preview

West Indies on Friday will clash with Ireland in a group B match of World Cup.

The match will be held at PCA stadium in Mohali.

West Indies are in the third place in Group B. if they win this match against Ireland, they will somehow secure their place in the semi-finals.

West Indies lost its first World Cup match to South Africa and then defeated Netherlands and Bangladesh in next two matches.

Senior West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan said that this is a crucial match for his team and the players will give their best.

"Every game is a must win game for us in this tournament. We will just go out there play and enjoy."

The West Indies have a strong batting line-up and will be looking to explosive Chris Gayle for a solid start. Young Darren Bravo showed great potential at the number three position while the middle-order has loads of experience in Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivanarine Chanderpaul. Also, in Keiron Pollard down the order, the West Indies have a batsman who can tear apart any bowling side on his day. However, the West Indies, who have a legacy of producing great fast bowlers, have some concerns on the bowling front. Apart from Kemar Roach, they don't have a quality pacer in their attack.

And captain Darren Sammy would be hoping that Roach, who took 3-19 against Bangladesh and 6-27 against the Netherlands, including a hat-trick, will carry on his good work in the coming matches.

In Suliemen Benn, the West Indies have a cunning left-arm spinner who has invariably bowled well upfront.
Ireland, on the other hand, have successfully carried the flag of the minnows with impressive performances in their last two matches after the close loss to Bangladesh in their opening game.

Ireland notched up the first upset of the tournament when they beat England by three wickets, toppling a score of 327 riding on Kevin O'Brien's brilliance.

The win over England also saw Ireland leapfrog Zimbabwe in the ODI rankings, moving into 10th position.

Even though they lost to India by five wickets, Ireland gave a tough fight to the co-hosts and bowled and fielded superbly while defending a modest total of 207.

Ireland are presently fifth in Group B and if they create another upset on Friday they will strengthen their chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals.

Irish skipper William Porterfield also believes that his side can make it to the quarterfinals and understands the significance of Friday's game.

Willow TV: West Indies vs Ireland: ICC Cricket World Cup Live action

West Indies will be going for the win that would put them in the quarter-finals when they take on a tricky Ireland side at Mohali on Friday.

The Caribbean side is on four points from it three matches and another win against the Irish side would see them joining co-hosts India in the next stage of the tournament.

West Indies, after losing to South Africa in the its opening match, bounced back to beat Bangladesh and Netherlands and will start strong favourites to beat their next opponent.

But captain Darren Sammy will not be taking them lightly.

“We have a lot of respect for them (Ireland),” he said ahead of the crucial clash. “They are a team that is improving constantly which shows their cricket is moving forward.

We are definitely not taking them lightly. We have seen what they are capable of doing.”

The West Indies will again look to strike bowler Kemar Roach, who taken 10 wickets so far in the tournament, including a hat-trick and Sulieman Benn, who has taken eight, to lead the bowling attack.

Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo and Darren Sammy are expected to be the big hitters with the bat.

Meanwhile, Ireland has been able to compete with all the big team so far in the tournament.

They defeated England and then had a close encounter with the Indians and will certainly be no pushovers.

All eyes will be on Kevin O’Brien, while many believe Ed Joyce will come big tomorrow.

ICC CWC LIVE: West Indies vs Ireland

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.