Injured Flintoff to miss Ireland match

CRICKET NEWS:WITH YESTERDAY'S second One-Day international falling victim to the weather in Aberdeen, Ireland now turn their focus to next Thursday's RSA Challenge at Stormont against an England side on a high after their Ashes triumph at The Oval.

Ireland will also go into the contest with plenty of confidence after a brilliant bowling and fielding display in Saturday’s 96-run win over the Scots at Mannonfield.

They will also be buoyed by the news that strike bowler Boyd Rankin may still play a part in the showcase fixture of the summer.

Ireland team manager Roy Torrens put the chances of the 6ft 8in Warwickshire star at “50-50” yesterday after he strained his groin in the county’s defeat to Durham at Chester-le-Street last week.

“Boyd will be arriving in Belfast tomorrow and we won’t know until our medical team have assessed the injury if he’ll play or not,” said Torrens.

“We’re certainly not giving up hope, our physio will get a couple of days to work on him, so I’d put in at 50-50 at the moment,” he added.

One player who will not be in Belfast this week is Andrew Flintoff.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed last night that he will undergo exploratory arthroscopic surgery on his injured right knee tomorrow.

England have named Rankin’s Warwickshire team-mate Jonathan Trott as a replacement following his debut century at The Oval in the 196-run victory over Australia.

Although Rankin would be a big loss in every sense of the word, Ireland coach Phil Simmons will have no problem backing his players to pull off a shock victory after they dismantled Scotland on Saturday.

Skipper William Porterfield completed a fine week in Aberdeen, with his 50 helping him tally 245 runs in three innings against the Scots.

It was the major contribution in Ireland’s total of 205 for nine, with Andre Botha (33), Andrew White (32) and a quick-fire 24 off 19 from Regan West also notable.

In the end it proved more than enough as Ireland’s seamers suffocated Scotland’s reply, with their frustration leading to three run outs as their innings failed to get off the blocks.

Alex Cusack and Trent Johnston, playing his 99th game for Ireland, gave away just 14 runs off the first 10 overs, with Cusack conceding just three singles in his five-over spell.

Kevin O’Brien and Andre Botha kept up the stranglehold for Ireland and Scotland were just 37 for two when the spinners came on after 18 overs.

With so much pressure on the home side to up the rate, it proved easy pickings with Regan West continuing his fine form with the ball by claiming best ODI figures of four for 26.

Kyle McCallan and Andrew White took a wicket apiece as Scotland eventually succumbed for 109 in the 41st over.