South Africa's Shaun Pollock bowls during a training session in Georgetown yesterday, ahead of their World Cup cricket Super Eights match against Ireland. - Reuters GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):
South Africa will face giant killers Ireland today, as they chase their second successive win in the 2007 Cricket World Cup second round.
The Proteas will also be seeking to avoid the mishaps that have plagued them in previous campaigns. On their re-entry to international cricket South Africa lost to England in the 1992 World Cup semi-finals when the Duckworth/Lewis system left them needing an impossible 22 to win from one ball when play resumed after a rain delay.
In 1999, they again missed out on a place in the final on net run rate after a pulsating tie against Australia in the semis.
Now ranked the number one One-Day International team, South Africa just squeezed past Sri Lanka by one-wicket in their opening Super Eightmatch last Wednesday.
They will hope for no more heart-stopping experiences as they seek to add to their points tally at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.
South Africa's coach Mickey Arthur said yesterday his team felt extra pressure to beat minnows Ireland.
"They are huge games because when you sit down and make plans for the rest of the tournament, they are both banker games and with games like that there comes an added pressure," Arthur said.
"If things go well, we would also hope to work a little bit on our net run-rate because, in the event of two teams finishing with the same number of points after the Super Eights, they will be divided by their overall run rate. But first prize is to leave Guyana with six points - if we can do that I'll be a very happy man."
Arthur also said South Africa's best chance to make the World Cup final would be to avoid title-holders Australia in the semi-finals.
"Based on current form I wouldn't mind staying away from Australia in the semi-finals," he said. "Right now I firmly believe the last four teams will be Australia, Sri Lanka , New Zealand and South Africa based on what I have seen, but we still have an awful lot of work to do to be sure of our place."
Quality player
Ireland, who upset Pakistan in the opening round, fought hard in their 48-run loss to England in their opening Super Eight game and Niall O'Brian who made 63 in that encounter to follow up his 72 against Pakistan, looked a quality player.
Jeremy Bray scored a century in the first round, while William Porterfield, Eion Morgan, South African born Andre Botha, Andrew White and skipper Trent Johnson who was born in Australia, are all also capable of contributing with the bat.
Shaun Pollock has not been at his best in the tournament so far with fast bowlers Makhaya Ntini, Charl Langeveldt and Andrew Hall being South Africa's main wicket-takers. Spinner Robin Peterson will want to capitalise on what should be another track giving assistance to slower bowlers.
Towering Irish pacer Boyd Rankin performed well against England and could extract disconcerting bounce with the new ball and should receive support from Dave Langford-Smith, Botha, Johnson and spinners Kyle McCallan and White.
