First of the couple of acid tests for Ireland

*Image: Courtesy Star Sports

Ireland has won its first two games. It chased a 300+ total against West Indies with ease but at the same time against UAE it went down to the wire. But for Ireland, what matters the most is that it has four points from two games. It has 4 more games and it has to win just 2 more to get into the quarter-finals. Though Ireland is not short of courage, but its courage will be put to test for the first time in this tournament when it would meet South Africa on Tuesday (March 3, 2015).

South Africa has played 3 and won 2 games. The most recent being the decimation of West Indies. It must be high on confidence. Though it struggled with Zimbabwe in its first match and in their second match batting collapsed in the chase against India, the third match saw what their batting line up is capable of. Ireland is a confident unit but having received wake-up call early in the tournament, South Africa will not take them lightly. They will treat them the same way as they would have treated India and West Indies.

A win in tomorrow's match for each of the team will mean that they will progress one step closer to the quarterfinals. Whatever be the quality and temperament of the Irish side, South Africa will start as favourite. Irish loss is not going to be a shock anyway, but what Ireland have to take care is that the margin of defeat is not huge. In their group particularly, NRR is going to decide at least one team for the quarter-finals. If, for Ireland, making into the knock-outs is priority, for South Africa, it would be to finish in top 2. They would not like to face Australia or New Zealand in the quarter-finals itself.

From the team perspective, neither of the team has any need to make any changes from the previous XI. So that would mean that South Africa will retain, Kyle Abbot and Rilee Rossouw as both Vernon Philander and JP Duminy are still recovering from injury. So far in the tournament, South Africa's pacers have been a disappointment when you compare them with that of Australia and New Zealand, I would even say Afghanistan. So against Ireland, they will have a point to prove. Ireland will be facing such a pace attack for the first time in the tournament. Will have to see how they cope up.

Ireland as usual is expected to give a tough fight, but AB de Villier's team should not be sweating for sure. If the clash offers a thrilling finish, then it will boost the confidence of Ireland and will raise eye-brows in the South African camp. A few more hours and we will have our answers.