CWCQ Preview: Ireland happy with balance

The William Porterfield-led Ireland team are a top side that go into the Cricket World Cup qualifier tournament with some strong recent performances.
Porterfield is confident about the balance of the side though he is cautious that being acknowledged as one of the better sides may mean that other teams would be looking to beat them.
The skipper understands that his side will have to be consistent if they hope to clinch one of the two available spots for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
The Irish captain said: “We’re a pretty balanced side, which gives us great confidence going into the tournament.
“Regardless of who we come up against, I believe we can match anything and perform in all aspects of the game.
“Whether it’s our seam attack, our batting or the spin department, we have the bases fairly well covered and we’re just looking forward to cracking on now and getting into the tournament.”
Ireland have been grouped together with arguably the best team at the tournament in the West Indies but should be confident of advancing to the super six phase from which the two finalists and World Cup competitors will be decided.
Ireland squad: William Porterfield (captain), Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, James Shannon, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling and Gary Wilson
Fixtures:
First round
March
4 A: Papua New Guinea v UAE, Harare Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
4 A: Ireland v Netherlands, Old Hararians (07:30 GMT)
4 B: Zimbabwe v Nepal, Queen’s Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
4 B: Afghanistan v Scotland, Bulawayo Athletic Club(07:30 GMT)
6 A: Papua New Guinea v Ireland, Harare Sports Club(07:30 GMT)
6 A: West Indies v UAE, Old Hararians (07:30 GMT)
6 B: Zimbabwe v Afghanistan, Queen’s Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
6 B: Scotland v Hong Kong, Bulawayo Athletic Club(07:30 GMT)
8 A: Netherlands v UAE, Harare Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
8 A: West Indies v Papua New Guinea, Old Hararians (07:30 GMT)
8 B: Scotland v Nepal, Queen’s Sports Club(07:30 GMT)
8 B: Afghanistan v Hong Kong, Bulawayo Athletic Club (07:30 GMT)
10 A: West Indies v Ireland, Harare Sports Club(07:30 GMT)
10 A: Papua New Guinea v Netherlands, Old Hararians (07:30 GMT)
10 B: Zimbabwe v Hong Kong, Queen’s Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
10 B: Afghanistan v Nepal, Bulawayo Athletic Club (07:30 GMT)
12 A: West Indies v Netherlands, Harare Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
12 A: Ireland v UAE, Old Hararians(07:30 GMT)
12 B: Hong Kong v Nepal, Queen’s Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
12 B: Zimbabwe v Scotland, Bulawayo Athletic Club(07:30 GMT)
(Top three teams in each group qualify for Super Sixes; others move into play-offs)
Super Sixes and play-offs
15 A1 v B1, Harare Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
15 A3 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
15 Play-off: A5 v B4, Old Hararians (07:30 GMT)
15 Play-off: A4 v B5, Kwekwe (07:30 GMT)
16 A2 v B2, Harare Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
17 9th/10th place play-off, Old Hararians (07:30 GMT)
17 7th/8th place play-off. Kwekwe (07:30 GMT)
18 A2 v B3, Harare Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
19 A1 v B2, Harare Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
20 A3 v B1, Harare Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
22 A1 v B3, Harare Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
22 A3 v B2, Old Hararians (07:30 GMT)
23 A2 v B1, Harare Sports Club (07:30 GMT)
(Top two teams in Super Six make the final – both qualify for 2019 World Cup)
25 Final, Harare Sports Club (08:30 BST)
Latest
-
News
History-making one-day captain Eoin Morgan set to call time on England career
Morgan led England to World Cup glory in 2019.
-
England
BBC staff ‘raised concerns’ over Michael Vaughan’s return amid racism scandal
The former Yorkshire batter returned to Test Match Special coverage for the recent England-New Zealand Test series.
-
County Cricket
Sam Curran’s century puts Surrey in complete control against Kent
Curran’s 126 helped Surrey rack up four centuries in the same championship innings for only the second time in their history.
-
England
England’s Kate Cross hails Marizanne Kapp’s ‘outstanding’ 150 for South Africa
Kapp came to the crease with South Africa 45 for four and steered her side out of trouble with a maiden Test century.
-
England
Marizanne Kapp steers South Africa out of trouble after England’s flying start
Kapp hit 150 from 213 deliveries as England ushered in a new era with four debutants, three taking their maiden Test wickets.
-
England
Marizanne Kapp century rescues South Africa after England make flying start
Kapp made 150 to help the tourists recover from 45 for four.
-
England
Style not stats key to breaking into rejuvenated England team, says Ben Stokes
New captain Stokes has led England to a 3-0 Test series win over New Zealand.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow brilliance and fast finishes – The stats behind England’s new era
The hosts turned on the style in their 3-0 series win over New Zealand.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root lead England to whitewash victory over New Zealand
England needed just 15.2 overs to win.
-
England
Eoin Morgan: International career with England in pictures
England white ball captain Eoin Morgan is set to announce his retirement from international cricket.