— Photo: AFP

Niall O'Brien.

KINGSTON: Ireland's historic place in the World Cup second round is assured, but Niall O'Brien can't wait to pit his wits against West Indies skipper Brian Lara in Friday's final match in Group `D.'

Both sides have already guaranteed their Super Eight slots, but the winner in the Sabina Park clash will have the advantage of taking extra two points into the next stage.

For feisty wicketkeeper O'Brien, who has just signed for Northants in the English county championship, that's incentive enough to lock horns once again with Lara. Back in 2004, the two men had a vociferous fall-out in a one-dayer at Stormont in Northern Ireland when the teams shared a two-match series.

O'Brien was angered by the West Indian's unwillingness to walk after an apparent edge. But he had the consolation of making 58 to see his side shock their illustrious visitors.

``Lara was funny,'' recalls O'Brien. ``We had that disagreement at Stormont and then two days later I turned up to play against him for (former county) Kent. I don't think he could believe his eyes.

``I think he'd seen enough of me. I talked to (West Indies teammate) Dwayne Bravo recently and he said `Brian said to say hello.' I'm looking forward to seeing him in Jamaica.''

Ireland has booked a historic place in the World Cup second round.

O'Brien, who has brother Kevin for company in the team, insists he will use his tough approach to the sport to try and help his side progress even further. ``I'm a fiery character. I play aggressive cricket. That's part of my game. If I wasn't you'd be taking away 50 per cent of the player I am,'' said O'Brien.

Ireland's Australia-born captain Trent Johnston, who hit the winning six against Pakistan, said his team would not be overawed by the West Indies. ``We'll take on the West Indies with confidence and give a good performance,'' said Johnston. ``We will give it 100 per cent and be very competitive.''

More vigour

West Indies will want to play with a lot more vigour than it did when Zimbabwe made it sweat for a six-wicket victory on Monday.

``We will play this match against Ireland as though it is a match in the Super Eights, to try to get ourselves focussed, and ready to play in the next stage of the competition,'' coach Bennett King said.

``I don't think Ireland has played above expectations because it has got a very sound bowling attack, and its top five batsmen have certainly done the job for it in the Associates' competitions.

``We have identified some strengths and weaknesses.''

King aware

King is aware of what happened in Belfast in 2004 when West Indies had lost by six wickets, with the Irish reaching an impressive 295 for four.

``We will treat it like a Super Eight game and it is going to be very important for us, since we want to go through in the No.1 position and carry the two points through to the next stage.''

West Indies opens the Super Eight campaign against reigning champion Australia on March 27 in Antigua.

Three days later, Ireland faces England in its opening Super Eight match in Guyana.

The teams (from): West Indies: Brian Lara (capt.), Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor.

Ireland: Trent Johnson (capt.), Andre Botha, Jeremy Bray, Kenny Carroll, Peter Gillespie, Dave Langford-Smith, Kyle McCallan, John Mooney, Paul Mooney, Eoin Morgan, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin, Andrew White.

Umpires: Billy Bowden and Ian Gould; Third umpire: Brian Jerling (RSA). Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SL). — Agencies

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