http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 v Ireland – ICC World Cup 2011 - preview
Bengali Tigers are all set to take on the leading associate nation, Ireland, in their second World Cup fixture today at the same venue where they lost to India in the inaugural match of the ICC World Cup 2011.
On paper, this is a clash of two underdog sides but it will be of great importance for the two sides given their chances of making it to the next round. The Dhaka boys know a defeat in this game could spell the end of their World Cup dream.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751’s team harbour aspirations of extending their stay in the Subcontinent. But they will need to defeat at least two of the Test playing sides in Group B and Poterfield’s men must be aware of the fact that this is their best, and most likely their last
chance, of defeating a Test side in the mega event.
The co-hosts have had injury concerns coming into the match as Imrul Kayes got hit in the forearm during a practice session on Wednesday, but the 24-year old opener is fit as he batted in the nets on the eve of the match.
However, medium pacer, Shaiul Islam, is not a sure starter as he too injured himself in the Wednesday practice session. So the home side is expected to play four spinners.
Ace batsman, Mohammad Ashraful is expected to be included into the playing XIs after being neglected for Saturday’s game. But the veteran batsman would be played down the order at number 7 as a power-play specialist.
Ireland, on the other hand, would be glad to see two returns to the squad. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ed-Joyce-c1417 came back from England and Boyd Rankin recovered from a stress fracture.
The Irish captain, William Porterfield, has been remarkable during the World Cup warm-up games scoring two half centuries and must be looking forward to a three-digit innings this time.
The former England batsman, , will strengthen the Ireland batting line-up at number 3 position. He hEd Joyceas also been in sublime touch over the past four games with two 40s and a fifty.
The pitch at the Shere Bangla behaved irrationally in the tournament opener between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 and Bangladesh. At the start the wicket was showing some good bounce but as the game proceeded the bounce got slower and lower.
The track is expected to assist spinners. As anticipated, dew played a role during the match between India and Bangladesh last Saturday and Shakib Al Hasan’s decision of putting he opposition into bat backfired at him.
This time again, the Bangladesh skipper is not expecting much dew, however, his Irish counterpart, William Porterfield said there was a bit of dew when the tourists practiced under lights on Tuesday.
Ireland lack spinners in their bowling brigade but that weakness is anticipated to be compensated by plenty of slow medium-pacers.
The Dhaka boys will be hard to beat at home and only the best team can fool them in their home conditions. But when the opposition is Ireland, you never know about the result.
Ireland have beaten the Tigers both times the sides faced off each other in mega events, in the 2007 World Cup and 2009 World Twenty Championship. So the side must be high on confidence ahead of taking on Bangladesh in their World
Cup opener at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.
Bangladesh (probable playing XI): 1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Naeem-Islam-c2053/Suhrawadi
Shuvo, 10 Abdur Razzak, 11 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rubel-Hossain-c2378.
Ireland (probable playing XI): 1 William Porterfield (captain), 2 Paul Stirling, 3 Andre Botha, 4 Ed Joyce, 5 Niall O'Brien (wicketkeeper), 6 Kevin O'Brien, 7 Andrew White, 8 John Mooney, 9 Trent Johnston, 10 Boyd
Rankin, 11 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/George-Dockrell-c59135/Albert van der Merwe.
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