Simmons confident Ireland can deliver hat-trick of titles

CRICKET INTERCONTINENTAL CUP: IRELAND COACH Phil Simmons believes his side have all the motivation they need as they try to claim a hat-trick of Intercontinental Cup titles going into their final against Namibia, which gets under way in the South African city of Port Elizabeth today.

The side have already shown their desire to succeed in a competition they have dominated in recent years, with victories earlier this month over their final opponents and Kenya booking them a place in the decider, which will be played over five days.

The extra day may be vital as Ireland require an outright victory because Namibia finished top of the table after the group stages and know a draw will be enough for them to record a first win in the competition.

Simmons, though, is confident his players will be keen to yet again prove their domination in the longer form of the game.

"To win this tournament again would show that we are still the number ones among the associates in four-day cricket," said Simmons.

"That's what the guys want to show after this. We are defending this trophy. It's ours and we don't want to let it go. That was the main motivation in our last two games against Namibia and Kenya in getting to this final and so that will be the motivation here too," added Simmons, who claimed his first success as Ireland coach in last year's final victory over Canada at Grace Road.

Simmons will he hoping his side get off to a better start than when the side's met in Windhoek at the start of the month. Ireland were skittled for just 69 in their first innings, but fine bowling from Boyd Rankin (seven for 72) and Peter Connell (seven for 73) led to a fraught, eight-run victory that kept them alive in the competition.

The batsmen were back on top in the innings victory over Kenya, with centuries from brothers Niall and Kevin O'Brien and Andre Botha helping them set an Irish record score when they declared on 578 for four.

It was Botha's fourth century of the campaign, and a fifth would be particularly fitting as the North County player will make his 100th appearance for Ireland today in the country of his birth.

IRELAND(from): W Porterfield (Gloucestershire, capt), A Botha (North County), P Connell (North Down), A Cusack (Clontarf), P Eaglestone (Strabane), T Johnston (Railway Union), K McCallan (Waringstown), J Mooney (North County), K O'Brien (Railway Union), N O'Brien (Northants, wkts), A Poynter (Clontarf), B Rankin (Warwickshire), R West (Civil Service North), A White (Instonians), G Wilson (Surrey).

NAMIBIA(from): L Burger (capt), JB Burger, K Burger, S Burger, L Klazinga, B Kotze, D Kotze, N Scholtz, W Slabber, G Snyman, T Verwey, L van der Westhuizen, C Williams.