Birrell encouraged by Ireland warm-up

IRELAND coach Adrian Birrell will be looking to put the lessons of his side’s warm-up matches to good use during the next few weeks of the World Cup in the Caribbean.

The debutants have created a favourable impression on fans in Trinidad after giving the number one-ranked South Africa team a scare before going down by 35 runs, and then cruising to victory by seven wickets over the more experienced Canada.

Birrell felt his team had given themselves the best chance of succeeding by practicing every day and taking the lessons from their two warm-up games seriously.