LIVE match update: England v http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751 - ICC World Cup 2011
England has started their innings in a spectacular manner, amassing 72 runs in their first power-play without losing a wicket, in their third ICC World Cup game against Ireland at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
The England captain, Andrew Strauss, won the toss and showed no hesitation in batting first to take advantage of the batting friendly conditions.
Kevin Pietersen and Strauss started their innings in a positive manner and played swashbuckling shots from the start putting the opposition bowling line-up under immense pressure.
Strauss punished anything that was pitched short of length and his cuts shots were definitely pleasing to watch. In his 28-run brisk knock, the left-hander scored two boundaries with an effortless six as well.
Pietersen, who has not racked up an ODI century for more than two years, is looking good at the top order. However today, he has looked in good touch as he played his strokes and driving the ball all around the park. The dashing right-hander looks to be
in a good form and this might be his chance to record his first hundred since November 2008.
Bowling from the Irish bowlers has been put to swords. They haven’t been able to pitch the ball in the ‘corridor of uncertainty’ on a regular basis, to trouble the English batsman. Three bowlers have been tried by the Irish captain and all of them have gone
for over six runs an over.
The new-ball pair of Trent Johnston and Boyd Rankin bowled too many freebies and went all around the park in the first ten overs. Johnston was hammered for 31 runs in his five overs, while Rankin conceded 31 runs in his four-over spell.
The Irish bowlers have to come up with a different plan against an in-from batting side, otherwise it will be difficult to hold back the likes Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell. They will have to take the pace off the ball. The Irishmen should introduce
spinners in order to break the rhythm of the opposition.
On the other hand, England’s start to the innings has been aggressive and a platform has been set for the middle order batsmen to coast their team to a mammoth total.
Tags: