Cricket 2009

[thecoolfreak]

Good start for Ireland today against Scotland in the qualifiers for the World Cup. Currently 131/1 after 20 overs chasing 232

[thecoolfreak]

Great win over Scotland. Got to the totla with 7 wickets remaing and 12 over left. Great start to the qualifying campaign

[SCG]

A great start to the competition! A lap-top with a wireless connection was essential this afternoon at a long an boring meeting!

For anyone interested live scores are available on Cricinfo at:
http://content.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/c ... /live.html

[tackle-bag]

For such an under-resourced, under-supported team the cricket boys really do provide immense value for money. I have no doubt but that they'll qualify for the world cup and go on another successful quest of giant-killing!

[suisse]

For such an under-resourced, under-supported team the cricket boys really do provide immense value for money. I have no doubt but that they'll qualify for the world cup and go on another successful quest of giant-killing!

And where will that world cup be?

Ireland have been really lucky with the world cup qualifiers. Having access to their English players, like Eoin Morgan and Niall O'Brien, is a real bonus, not to mention the schedule. 5 games in 8 days in difficult conditions, albeit on decent tracks, is gruelling, but to get Scotland out of the way early on must have been a real fillup for them.And then to thrash them. That heavy loss to Zimbabwe 'A' will also have done them the world of good too.

Oman and Uganda should be dispatched before a big game against Namibia in Jo'burg. We will be through by then anyway, and if we win this pool, probably Denmark in the first Super 8's.

Good luck to them There's no doubt with the excellent quality in that side, they should be more than able to make it through. Would be great to see them playing in Centurion on April 19th

[SCG]

Ireland 285 for 4 after 50 overs against Oman, so that should be fine1 We had been 111 for 4, which was a bit dodgy, but Kevin O'Brien got an unbeaten century. Andrew Cusack was not out on 71.

[suisse]

Irelnd won by 116 runs

Eoin Morgan out for 1, Niall O'Brien out for 20 - ignore what I said last night

That was a huge 101n.o. for Kevin off 91 balls. 5 sixes thrown in too. Brilliant innings.

Regan West took 5 for just 26 runs in his 10 overs, and two maidens in there too. Oman reached 98 before they lost their first wicket - must have been hearts in mouths time for Ireland. By the time they reached 120, they'd lost 5 wickets. Game over.

[SCG]

We have interesting matches to come - against Uganda, and then Canada and Namibia. We should be very familiar with both of these, and all three seem to be having very tight matches. One more win should be enough for us to progress to the next stage of the competition.

[simonno6]

Irelnd won by 116 runs

Eoin Morgan out for 1, Niall O'Brien out for 20 - ignore what I said last night

That was a huge 101n.o. for Kevin off 91 balls. 5 sixes thrown in too. Brilliant innings.

Regan West took 5 for just 26 runs in his 10 overs, and two maidens in there too. Oman reached 98 before they lost their first wicket - must have been hearts in mouths time for Ireland. By the time they reached 120, they'd lost 5 wickets. Game over.

Yeh i think the really interesting thing about the first two matches has been the outstanding efforts from so many of the players. With Botha and Kyle injured Regan West has really stood up. Apart from the regular county players, West, Cusack, Kevin O'Brien and Conell have all made excellent contributions.

I think Ireland should now be focusing on completely dominating this competition and winning it comprehensively - lets send a message to the ICC and show them we mean serious business.

Its going to be a busy and interesting summer for the Irish squad, and when were playing without the county boys, its good to see that others are really standing up. For the Friends Providence we will certainly be missing Porterfield, O'Brien, Morgan and probably Rankin too. Kevin O'B has also been attracting a lot of interest from county sides so we may very well lose him as well. That competition will be a real test.

On another note... Afghanistan... Wow. Fair play.

[suisse]

Yeh i think the really interesting thing about the first two matches has been the outstanding efforts from so many of the players. With Botha and Kyle injured Regan West has really stood up. Apart from the regular county players, West, Cusack, Kevin O'Brien and Conell have all made excellent contributions.

I think Ireland should now be focusing on completely dominating this competition and winning it comprehensively - lets send a message to the ICC and show them we mean serious business.

Its going to be a busy and interesting summer for the Irish squad, and when were playing without the county boys, its good to see that others are really standing up. For the Friends Providence we will certainly be missing Porterfield, O'Brien, Morgan and probably Rankin too. Kevin O'B has also been attracting a lot of interest from county sides so we may very well lose him as well. That competition will be a real test.

On another note... Afghanistan... Wow. Fair play.

Great point - do you remember post World Cup they were contemplating reducing the numbers competing for WC2011 dramatically, so it's basically a tea party between the test playing nations only? You then have ex-English players poking fun at Ireland for being overly reliant on foreigners, yet South African playing for England Kevin Pietersen (amongst others) visited the Irish camp for words of wisdom on how to beat the Aussies. I think we do have the support of the English cricketers, and in a few years, it may turn out we owe them a huge debt of thanks. If Ireland keep winning the InterContCup, a couple of FPT wins a season, and make the WC, the ICC will have to take notice.

Do you think cricket has abrighter future in Ireland, than Zimbabwe, right now?

[SCG]

Uganda 155 all out with 4 wickets for Andrew White. Ireland passed them with 6 wickets and almost 20 overs to spare. Canada are demolishing Namibia at present.

[thecoolfreak]

Ireland bowled Canada out for 220. Not a great start to the batting though, losing 2 quick wickets for 10 runs.

In other news Eoin Morgan has been called into an extended England squad for the World 20/20

[thecoolfreak]

Another 2 wickets down. N O'Brien after a quick fire 32 and Cusack out for a duck

[Broken Wing]

O'Brien isn't out yet. He's on 63 at the moment and Ireland need just 42 from the remaining 96 to win.

[SCG]

Ireland require another 35 runs with 6 wickets and 14.1 overs remaining

[Broken Wing]

Ireland need 15 runs in 71 balls! Still O'Brien (79) and Morgan (78) batting. Come on!

[SCG]

A great win. Also a great 5th wicket partnership - 181 runs from only 32 overs despite being up against at the start!

[Broken Wing]

Ireland beat Canada by 6 wickets. O'Brien finished on 89 with Morgan on 84.

Great result and a great partnership right enough.

[thecoolfreak]

O'Brien isn't out yet. He's on 63 at the moment and Ireland need just 42 from the remaining 96 to win.

Was talking about Niall O'Brien

[Broken Wing]

O'Brien isn't out yet. He's on 63 at the moment and Ireland need just 42 from the remaining 96 to win.

Was talking about Niall O'Brien

Apologies. Don't know how I missed that.