Porterfield doubtful for Uganda battle
Skipper Porterfield has been in fine form in the middle — scoring a century in the seven-wicket win over Scotland that a team-mate rated as one of the best he had ever seen by any batsman — but he has also been in the runs off the field, falling victim to a debilitating stomach upset.
Whether or not his captain passes a fitness test at the Stan Friedman Oval this morning, national coach Phil Simmons insists Ireland will be at full throttle to build on the most encouraging of back-to-back wins over the Scots and Oman.
Simmons said: “It’s been a good start, no doubt about it. The game against Scotland was the biggest in the group for us and it was a great performance but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to go on improving throughout the three weeks and win all our games.”
On past form, Uganda were not expected to startle the horses in the 12-team contest for the last four World Cup places in 2011, but a six-run victory over Namibia on Wednesday has given the east Africans a genuine chance of reaching next week’s Super Eights stage.
Namibia, though, could be out if they fail to beat Canada today while Bermuda, who made the World Cup finals two years ago, are also staring into the abyss in Group B after losing heavily to both the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan.
If Bermuda lose a third game to Denmark, they will not only be eliminated but their continued participation in the InterContinental Cup — and Ireland’s planned two-week trip to the holiday island at the start of the July — will also be in jeopardy.
Only the top six in this tournament are guaranteed an IC Cup place.
IRELAND v Uganda (from): W Porterfield (capt), G Wilson, N O’Brien (wkt), E Morgan, A Botha, K O’Brien, A White, A Cusack, T Johnston, R West, P Connell, B Rankin.
Remaining schedule: Today v Uganda, April 6 v Canada, April 8 v Namibia; April 11-17 Super Eights; April 19 Final.
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