Line and Length - Times Online - WBLG

Wicket! Botha c Sangakkara b Maharoof 0

Promoted up the Ireland batting order-up in place of the out-of-form Botha edges to the wicket-keeper a short, unthreatening ball that he should have left.

Wicket! Bray c b Maharoof

Having conceded a four from his previous ball - the second in succession from Jeremy Bray - Maharoof beats the Irish opener with a slower ball which he lofts to silly mid-off. Having made an excellent start, Ireland are on a modest 28-1 from 7.2 overs.

Ireland 15-0 (Bray 6 Porterfield 5) Overs: 5

Also, England managed only two more runs than Ireland scored against South Africa. Worse for Vaughan's men, Graeme Smith & co needed 31.3 overs to reach their target against the Irish, compared to a mere 19.2 versus England. Bray lofts a delivery from Vaas over midoff to hit the game's first boundary. The track looks slow and perhaps not as accommodating to seam movement as the first over suggested. Ireland move to ten. Bray cracks another boundary, then survives an lbw appeal.

Ireland 4-0 (Bray 1 Porterfield 3) Overs: 3

Yes, England beat Ireland by a comfortable 48 runs, but they have returned fairly similar results elsewhere in the tournament, certainly similar enough for a comparison aimed at highlighting the mediocrity of the England team. Michael Vaughan's side, for example, have not beaten a Test-playing nation whereas Ireland easily defeated Pakistan. Porterfield moves into credit with a drive for three, Bray earns one.

Ireland 0-0 (Bray 0 Porterfield 0) Overs: 2

If Ireland win today, they will draw level on points with England. If England then suffer a heavy defeat against West Indies, their counterparts from across the Irish Sea could yet finish above Michael Vaughan's side in the Super Eights. With that and the suggestion yesterday from David Gower that England should now be considered a minnow in mind, TO will today conduct a head-to-head of the two close neighbours today and attempt to decide: on current form, are Ireland better than England? Again, a maiden.

Ireland 0-0 (Bray 0 Porterfield 0) Overs: 1

Recalled to the side after being rested for the defeat by Australia, Charminder Vaas finds some prodigious turn with his first over. Most impressive is a delivery angled outside offstump that drew a tentative play ad miss from Bray. A straighter ball prompts a rejected lbw appeal, the ball having clipped the bat. Maiden.

2.25pm

Here are the teams:

Ireland: Jeremy Bray, William Porterfield, Eoin Morgan, Niall O'Brien, Andre Botha, Kevin O'Brien, Trent Johnston (captain), Kenny Carroll, Kyle McCallan, Dave Langford-Smith, Boyd Rankin.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Chamara Silva, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Farveez Maharoof, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Kulasekara.

And the umpires: Billy Doctrove (West Indies) and Mark Benson (England). The Australian Daryl Harper is the TV umpire.

2.25pm

Here are the teams:

Ireland: Jeremy Bray, William Porterfield, Eoin Morgan, Niall O'Brien, Andre Botha, Kevin O'Brien, Trent Johnston (captain), Kenny Carroll, Kyle McCallan, Dave Langford-Smith, Boyd Rankin.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Chamara Silva, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Farveez Maharoof, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Kulasekara.

And the umpires: Billy Doctrove (West Indies) and Mark Benson (England). The Australian Daryl Harper is the TV umpire.

2.20pm

Welcome to Times Online's over-by-over coverage of Ireland v Sri Lanka. Fielding a full-strength team, Sri Lanka have won the toss and chosen to bat. Email sport@timesonline.co.uk

Live from 2.30pm: England v South Africa

Despite doing their level best to avoid qualifying for the World Cup semi-finals, England or South Africa will have to join Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the last four. That could be achieved today when they face each other in a nervy encounter in Barbados. South Africa are renowned chokers, while England have so far played like a bunch of jokers. It's time to stand up and be counted: Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff must fire, while Duncan Fletcher knows defeat would surely seal his fate. Follow the action live right here from 2.30pm.