Press T
Hamilton, March 9: Defending champions India will target a new record when they take on Ireland here Tuesday in a Pool B match of the cricket World Cup. The Indians have so far won eight matches on the trot with Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men equalling the feat achieved by Saurav Ganguly’s team in 2003. Another win will see them get nine victories on the trot and in the process create a new World Cup record.
It will be another David versus Goliath contest where India will be looking to maintain their supremacy over Ireland, who are seeking fourth spot in the pool to make the quarterfinal grade. The last time the two sides met was in 2011 and India won the game comfortably riding on Yuvraj Singh’s half century and five-wicket haul.
Such has been the impact created by the Mohammed Shami and company, that once more India will start overwhelming favourites. The Indian bowlers have so far captured 37 wickets in the four games with Shami emerging as the highest wicket-taker (nine) for the Men in Blue. However, he has been ably backed up by the likes of Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma and spinners Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja – all of whom have contributed at crucial junctures to make India look a formidable side.
However, it has not only been a story of taking wickets. The economy rate maintained by the Indian bowlers have been fantastic and the worst rate among the bowlers is that of Jadeja (4.51 runs per over). In modern day ODIs such an economy rate cannot be just termed good, it must be called fantastic. Among others Yadav (4.33), Shami (4.00) and Ashwin (3.91) have also been brilliant and have maintained a tight stranglehold on the opposition.
The find of the tournament, however, has been Mohit. Not only has he taken six wickets, but also has the best economy rate (3.90) among the Indian bowlers. His brilliant bowling in the middle overs has played a very influential role in India dominating the show.
It will however be a test for the Indian bowlers at the short Seddon Park ground here, where the side boundaries are barely 60 metres, something that the Indian batsmen won’t mind. But then the bowlers will have to maintain a very tight line against the likes of William Porterfield, Ed Joyce and Kevin O’Brien.
It will also be a chance for Indian batsmen to change their poor track record at the Seddon Park where they have won only two of the eight ODIs. Virender Sehwag is the only player from India to have scored a hundred at the venue.