Match Previews / Andrew Hughes / 13 March 2011 /

Ireland's slim hopes of a quarter-final place depend on their recreating their earlier heroics? Can they do to South Africa what they did to England?

London Start Time: 09:00

Venue and Conditions
Eden Gardens is finally ready for its first match of the World Cup. The curator reports that the pitch he is preparing will be a good one to bat on but with enough grass left on it to give the quicker bowlers something to work with. As with many Indian grounds, dew accumulates in Kolkata as the sun goes down and so there is a slight advantage to batting second in day-night games.

Team News
Imran Tahir is unavailable and South Africa must choose between playing two spinners or three quick bowlers; a decision that will probably depend on how they read the pitch on Tuesday morning.

Ireland missed the guile of Trent Johnston last time and will be hoping he is fit to take his place, in which case Andre Botha is the player most likely to step aside.

Match Odds
South Africa's compelling win over India at the weekend secured their quarter-final spot and enables them to approach this game without any pressure. By contrast, Ireland will be hoping for something of a cricket miracle. They need to win in Kolkata, overcome the Netherlands in their last match and hope that results elsewhere go their way. So what chance do the brave Irish have?

Well, we know they will fight hard, as they have done in all of their games so far. And though they have been outgunned with bat and ball, their tenacity, not to mention their energetic fielding has kept them in games long after other sides would have capitulated. Given that Kolkata can be an unpredictable pitch and that batting second is a clear advantage, should things go their way at the toss, the Irish may just be worth a punt at [12.0] in the match winners market.

Top Batsman
Though he has yet to score big runs in this tournament, Graeme Smith does have happy memories of Kolkata, having scored a century last time he played at this venue. He can be backed to top score at [5.0]

South Africa will be keeping an eye on Kevin O'Brien, but Ed Joyce is the class act in the Irish batting line-up, having hit form against the West Indies, he is the one to be on in the top Irish batsman market at [5.0]

Featured Market
Four of the last five games here have seen a century scored, so it could be worth backing 'Over 82.5' in the Highest Individual Score market at [1.75] or better

Best Bet

Back Ireland to win at [12.0]

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