The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

[VIDEO] Ireland vs Pakistan highlights: 2015 Cricket World Cup scores, blog

15th March, 2015
Time: 2:30pm (AEDT)
Venue: Adelaide Oval
TV: Fox Sports (LIVE)
(AFP Photo/Marty Melville)
Expert
15th March, 2015
280
5666 Reads

Good afternoon and welcome to The Roar‘s coverage of Match 42 of the 2015 Cricket World Cup featuring Ireland up against Pakistan at Adelaide Oval. You can follow the live scores and coverage from 2:30pm (AEDT) and leave your comments below.

Everything is on the line for Ireland and Pakistan in Adelaide today.

Win and a spot in the quarterfinals is secured.

Lose and their fate is in the hands of the West Indies – who face off against the UAE today – as well as the weather and the mathematical gods.

With the winner of today’s game set to finish third in Pool B, they will meet Australia here in Adelaide for the beginning of the knock out stages next week.

There has been a lot of talk about Ireland’s win over Pakistan in what was only their second ever World Cup game in 2007.

It was a win that stunned the cricketing world and embarrassed Pakistan.

While the stakes are higher today, a win for Ireland could not be said to be an upset as it was eight years ago.

Advertisement

After their opening victory over the West Indies, the Irish have won over many cricket commentators, and backed up this respect with two more wins against the UAE and Zimbabwe.

In particular, their ability to chase down targets has been impressive.

Unlike Ireland, Pakistan started off their tournament poorly, with two straight losses against India and the West Indies.

Since then, however, Pakistan have managed three wins on the trot, including a stunning win over tournament favourites South Africa.

In that match, the Pakistani bowling attack restricted the Proteas to just 202 runs.

Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali and Mohammad Irfan have been pivotal to Pakistan’s World Cup recovery and will need to bowl Pakistan into the quarterfinals today.

If Pakistan’s bowlers can get on top and restrict the Irish to a modest total Pakistan should take the spoils.

Advertisement

Ireland will have other plans, however, and will look to their batsmen for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce and Andrew Balbirnie are key to their team’s success and have shown throughout the tournament that they are capable of applying scoreboard pressure.

They will certainly need the luck of the Irish if they are to win today.

Prediction:
This game should be a cracker, with both teams playing for a spot in the quarterfinals, but Pakistan should get over the line.

close