Sri Lanka vs Ireland preview

Posted on | April 17, 2007 | No Comments

Ireland will look to wrap up their World Cup duties with a win when they play Sri Lanka in their last super eight game in Grenada.

The Sri Lankans have already qualified for the semifinals, and are sitting third in the super eight table. South Africa, who are at 4th, cannot catch them and going above New Zealand will not have any major change in the semifinal lineup. They chose to rest Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan against Australia, and one wonders whether they will chose to do the same. Ireland will certainly be hoping that they do that. However the reserve bowlers didn’t do too well, and the thrashing that Australia gave them will be fresh in their minds. Jayawardene and Chamara Silva got some runs in that game, but the collapse of the middle and lower middle order would not have gone down well with Dav Whatmore. Incase the Sri Lankans do choose to rest Vaas and Murali, the likes of Bandara and Kulasakera will again get a look in.

Ireland have impressed one and all at this World Cup. They are a team with limited resources and potential, but their teamwork and determination has seen them scale great heights in this tournament. All their wins have come against subcontinental teams so far- Pakistan and Bangladesh and the Irish will be looking to complete a treble when they play Sri Lanka.That is easier said than done though. Sri Lanka are a professional unit, and have displayed a fair amount of consistency in the last month or so. It is also coach Adrian Birrell’s last game in charge of the men in emerald green, and the team will be keen to give him a worthy send off. The Irish haven’t played at the National stadium yet and the Lankans have played twice- that is a point you need to keep in mind.

Sri Lanka go into this game as favourites. Ireland are the underdogs for this one. Tharanga and Fernando to play well, and Morgan and Rankin the men for Ireland

Related posts:

1. Australia vs Sri Lanka preview
2. New Zealand vs Sri Lanka preview
3. World Cup 2011: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe – betting preview
4. World Cup 2011: Sri Lanka v Kenya – betting preview
5. New Zealand vs Sri Lanka betting preview- World Cup 2011 SF

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