WORLD CUP CRICKET : QUIZTION OF THE DAY - 29

WORLD CUP CRICKET QUIZ:

April 10th, 2007: Quiztion of the Day - 29

The Kiwis continued their unbeaten run of ODI victories with another comprehensive win over the Ireland. Starting from Chappell-Hadlee series this is their 9th win in a row. No captain knows better than Stephen Fleming on how to put the opposition under pressure when they seem to takeaway the game. Ireland was no match for the Kiwis, at least in this match and wilted under pressure by letting New Zealand compile a huge total of 263/8 after being at a precarious position of 189/7 in 43rd over. Again after the O’Brien brothers put them in a good position for slog they lost last seven wickets for just 24 runs thus losing the match by 129 runs. For the first in the tournament Ireland came out below par than what they are capable off.

Ireland, still needs to find out a way on how to chase totals in excess of 250.At present their top order is not good enough and the approach of the middle order is not conducive to run scoring. Their lower order is not capable of withstanding any quality bowling attack. Except the Pakistani game in which they chased a target of just 131 runs that too at one time looked difficult when they last three wickets in quick succession, they never looked good while chasing a target. Ireland needs to elevate their batting skills if at all they want to put up a decent fight while chasing totals. Though they are not embarrassing themselves in any department of the game, at times their batting seems to be little boring and incapable of chasing any significant targets. Their work on the field meanwhile, especially that of Eoin Morgan who took three catches in the game, was very consistent throught out the tournament and is comparable to any other team in this World Cup.

Ireland’s bowling in this game was as good as any of the other teams, they restricted New Zealand to 189/7 in 43 over, but a late burst of brilliant batting by Brendon McCullum and James Franklin saw them adding 74 runs in last 7 overs and there by taking the match away from a range that Ireland ‘s brittle batting order is capable of chasing.

After Shane Bond took his customary first couple of wickets the O’Brien brothers tried repairing the damage but an unfortunate run-out of the younger brother , Kevin , opened the floodgates and both Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel seized the opportunity to skittle out Ireland from 110 for 3 to 134 all out.

For his patient 83 which came off 110 balls and anchored the New Zealand innings Peter Fulton won the man of the match. But in my opinion Brendon McCullum’s 47 of 37 balls and James Franklin’s 34* of 22 balls and their eighth wicket partnership of 71 in 7.1 overs was the main reason New Zealand ended up as victors.

Australian born Dave Langford Smith took the wickets of Hamish Marshall and Scott Styris in quick succession after Boyd Rankin removed Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming. More than the wickets his ferret dancing celebration may have pleased his captain who himself has a way of celebrating a wicket with chicken-dance.

Today’s ‘Quiztion of the Day’ is about Australian born cricketers who played for Ireland. Here it is:

Current World Cup Irish team members Dave Langford-Smith and Jeremy Bray along with their captain Trent Johnson were all born in Australia. Both Johnson and Bray also played for New South Wales in Pura Cup. But there are two other Australian born cricketers who also represented Ireland in cricket though not in Official ODIS and played for Australia in both ODIs including World Cup and in Test Cricket. Name these two Australian Cricketers who also represented Ireland for their National Cricket team.

Remember to email your answers for each quiz individually to vijay@dreamcricket.com with the subject line as 'Quiztion of the Day - X' (X being the question number) through out the tournament duration. Results will be first posted on http://www.dreamcricket.com/ website within a week of the World Cup Final.

Cheers...