West Indies v Ireland in must-win World Twenty20 match
The first match in Group D of the 2010 World Twenty20 is a crucial one for both the West Indies and Ireland, with the winner likely clearing a path to the Super Eight stage.
The West Indies may be the hosts, and 2009 semi-finalists, but they are also a side struggling for form despite being captained by a batsman, Chris Gayle, who at his destructive best can win a match off his own bat.
Ireland made a surprise appearance beyond the group stage last year, but have lost to fellow qualifiers Afghanistan in their warm-up matches – they also lost against the same team in the final of the qualifying tournament – a result that does not bode well for their chances in the main tournament.
These two out-of-sorts teams have been lumped in with an England side on an upward trajectory in Group D. The point being, neither the hosts or William Porterfield’s team are likely to win their group matches against Paul Collingwood’s men, so this match stands a strong chance of determining which side from this group will be eliminated at the earliest possible opportunity.
So who will it be? Ireland have cobbled together a side that includes a mixture of local lads and as well as a collection of Australia-born, New Zealand-born and South African-born players but it’s still Porterfield, the team’s leading run-scorer at the 2009 World Twenty20, that they’ll rely on to lead the batting here.
For the West Indies, Kieron Pollard’s explosive batting at the end of the innings was on show in the IPL, and along with Dwayne Bravo, he provides a genuine all-round option. In Kemar Roach they’ve also got a fast bowler capable of intimidating opposition batsmen into submission, but he’s also one of a number of relatively inexperienced players in the side.
Despite some shining lights among their side, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul should not be forgotten here, the West Indies can fall in a heap if things start to go wrong, and that’s where Ireland could capitalise.
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