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By Mark Mitchener
Morning, everyone. As I made my way here\u00a0to Beeb Towers on the train, much of the countryside was\u00a0covered in mist - and Group B of the World Cup remains equally shrouded. The tables reveal that while Group A is just about home and hosed, with the four qualifiers determined after Pakistan's win over Zimbabwe yesterday (watch the highlights on the BBC website), Group B is about as clear as mud, with no team yet assured of a place.
But I'll try to keep you informed of the various permutations as the day goes on. Our main feature today is South Africa v Ireland from Kolkata - play starts at 0900 GMT, with Test Match Special on air from 0845. Briefly, SA are through if they win - and Ireland are out if they don't.
While we await the toss from Eden Gardens, a quick advisory note - TMS today is only available on BBC 5 live sports extra and via the BBC Sport website -\u00a0so apologies to any BBC Radio 4 Long Wave devotees, but\u00a0stick with us\u00a0for all the info.\u00a0
On Twitter: "Victor thought this was our commentary area... but this is it."
Ireland win the toss and will field first. Trent Johnston is over his knee injury and replaces fellow all-rounder Andre Botha, who is still suffering with illness and hasn't even made it to the ground.
South Africa's AB de Villiers misses out with a quad strain, so Colin Ingram replaces him. More surprisingly, keeper Morne van Wyk is listed at number three on the scorecard, despite scoring nought not out, 13 and five so far in the tournament...
On Twitter: "Chris Gayle expected to be fit for game v England on Thursday."
If you haven't heard, England's Andrew Strauss and Graeme Swann are also expected to play, despite missing practice today with stomach bugs.
As usual, we'd like to hear what you think as the game ebbs and flows. And it couldn't be simpler - you can e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with "For Mark Mitchener" in the subject line), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word, or join in with the fun on Twitter by using the hashtag #bbcworldcup.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Morne van Wyk (wk), Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Francois du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Robin Peterson, Johan Botha, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn.
Ireland: William Porterfield (capt), Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien (wk), Gary Wilson, Kevin O'Brien, Alex Cusack,\u00a0Trent Johnston, John Mooney, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin.
Umps today are Sri Lanka's Kumar Dharmasena and West Indies' Billy Doctrove, with Australia's Simon Taufel as third ump and England's Ian Gould as "fourthers". Match referee is Sri Lanka's Ranjan Madugalle.
TMS are on air from Kolkata - Simon Mann has heard whispers that there may be a shower or two a bit later. Get those Duckworth-Lewis tables ready...
Time for the anthems. Sounds like there's plenty of bass in the Irish anthem, which most of the team sing heartily. The South African anthem is more choral, and keeper Morne van Wyk stands proudly hand-on-heart (with his eyes closed), and they have plenty of fans in the crowd singing along\u00a0- one or two wearing Hashim Amla beards.
Andrew Strauss and his England team may also be looking on with interest - as an Ireland win today would leave SA still needing to beat Bangladesh in their last game to reach the quarter-finals. And a Proteas win over Bangladesh, coupled with an England win over West Indies, would send England through.
(England still need to win their last game, whatever happens - but the simplest "other result" to go their way of all the permutations\u00a0would be a Bangladesh defeat against SA).
From Steve, Devon: "Van Wyk once batted\u00a0at three\u00a0in a tri series final with England where he didn't do badly although South Africa got steamrolled... seems a long time ago now!"
It was 2003 - and he didn't get picked for another four years after that!
Boyd Rankin taking the first over, Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith opening up as usual for SA...
Amla and Smith open with a single apiece against the bleach-blond Rankin's right-arm seam. Eden Gardens is still filling up as Amla knocks another single, before Smith swishes and misses outside off stump.
Shaven-headed former skipper Trent Johnston is back in the side to take the second over, with a thick layer of white sun cream on his bottom lip. He sends down a legside wide, captain Porterfield encourages his fielders as Amla fends off a short delivery, before clipping a jogged two to John Mooney on the mid-wicket fence, one of the two boundary riders permitted in the opening powerplay. Amla off-drives and scampers a single as Alex Cusack makes a sharp diving stop at extra cover. Ireland very tidy in the field so far.
"Graeme Smith has got a start in just about every innings he's played in this tournament, but he's not got to 50 yet. He's giving up the ODI captaincy after this tournament."
Alison Mitchell on TMS mentions the "huge sense of history" at Eden Gardens - highlights have included the 1987 World Cup final, the 1996 semi-final, and South Africa's readmission to international cricket in 1991. Ireland are still sharp in the field as Gary Wilson (a wicketkeeper, let's not forget) dives well at mid-wicket to parry a pull straight to a team-mate, whose throw hits the stumps at the bowler's end. Four singles and a side from the over, a steady if pedestrian start. "Cagey", says Vic Marks on TMS.
From Paul, Belfast: "Come on Ireland, make my day a bit more entertaining at work with a win and an early St Patrick's Day present. Trent back to take a bunch of wickets today,\u00a0I can feel another big surprise, Ireland to be singing 'are you England in disguise' later..."
Ireland's Niall O'Brien changes his wicketkeeping pads between overs, and Johnston keeps Smith tied down for a while before he pokes a single to mid-on. Vic Marks admires\u00a0Eden Gardens'\u00a0"old, Aussie-style scoreboard" as Amla is kept on his toes as he takes a quick single and it only just beats Cusack's throw to the bowler's end. No boundaries yet.
Lovely cover drive from Amla brings the first boundary of the day, but Rankin is finding a bit of lift in the pitch as Amla goes after him again and is beaten by the bounce. Another bouncer is flayed over mid-wicket by Amla, that's six and it nearly hit a couple of colourful drummers who were looking the other way! But Ireland bounce back when Amla flashes outside off stump and top-edges it into the arms of the diving George Dockrell at third man!
As anticipated, wicketkeeper Morne van Wyk is in at three. From what I've seen of him in this tournament, I'm inclined to agree with the observation on TMS the other day that he doesn't appear to be a better batsman or keeper than Mark Boucher, who appears to be out of the ODI reckoning for the Proteas. But he's the non-striker as they crossed on the catch - Rankin sends down two dot balls to Smith.
Johnston has two slips in for the new man Van Wyk, while Ireland coach Phil Simmons is grinning from ear to ear on their balcony. Van Wyk is straight into the action, slashing Johnston for four through extra cover (with no footwork). He then goes for a similar shot... and is dropped by Kevin O'Brien who's been placed in a catching position at short extra cover. The first blemish in an (until now) excellent fielding performance by the Irish.
Johnston's face was an absolute picture on the replays as that catch went down... Smith and Van Wyk prod singles against Rankin, the blond keeper gets an edge but it shuttles safely down to third man.
Van Wyk lifts Johnston high into the Kolkata afternoon sky, it sails over mid-on and lands just inside the boundary before trickling into the rope for four. "I think Van Wyk's going to play his natural game, and Smith will be the steady old soldier," notes Vic Marks on TMS. Van Wyk is certainly going for his shots, lofting another four over the infield, this time on the off side, before punching the last ball to mid-on and diving through for a quick single as Dockrell's throw hits the stumps.
Van Wyk continues with\u00a0his\u00a0attacking\u00a0style\u00a0as full toss from Rankin is punched through point for four, and he lofts another four over mid-off... and is then dropped by Paul Stirling at slip. Should have taken that one, it was chest-high. The reprieved Van Wyk knocks a single into the covers to bring South Africa to 50.
And some interesting news from MCC - they've named their side to face champions Notts in the traditional curtain-raiser to the English county season. Aussie Chris Rogers (newly signed by Middlesex from Derbyshire) is captain, but the real star name is India's Rahul Dravid, while the side also includes two Afghanistan players - former MCC young cricketers Hamid Hassan and Mohammad Nabi. Two England internationals are also picked - Surrey keeper Steven Davies and Hampshire pace bowler Simon Jones.
After a single apiece, Van Wyk hits the ball to mid-wicket, sends Smith back and the skipper has to dive for the crease at the bowler's end as John Mooney's throw hits the stumps - he's walking off already and the TV replay confirms he's out!
From Rajendra, TMS inbox: "Hi Mark. Slightly off topic, but this was the day when VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh scripted the greatest Test win for India (against Australia). Yes, it was 15 March 2001."
Jacques Kallis is the new batsman, but the chastened Van Wyk - having at least partially contributed to his captain's downfall - plays out the over.
From Andrew Robertson, TMS inbox: "In a cruel twist of fate Ireland, with only two to win, lose the match as Dale Steyn bowls Kevin O\u2019Brien with a rugby ball that the umpires fail to spot."
That wicket came at a good time for Ireland, who take the fielding powerplay at the first opportunity. Vic Marks on TMS notes Kallis is vulnerable to an early yorker - and Rankin fires one in at his feet which Kallis forces to leg for a single. And there's rain in the air - some of the crowd are running for cover, while the ground staff are getting the tarpaulins ready. Van Wyk, collar-length blond hair poking out of the back of his helmet, steers a single to take him to 26, while Kallis - whose hair has also attracted plenty of attention at this tournament - punches a four back past the bowler.
Plenty of bottom hand from Van Wyk as he swats Johnston for a four and then another big six over square leg. Johnston doesn't look a happy bunny as when he does find the edge of Van Wyk's bat, it disappears for four to third man.
From Mike, Manchester: "An Ireland win puts England's qualification into their own hands. Beat West Indies and qualify above the loser of Bangladesh v South Africa. Come on Ireland!"
That's fine as long as there's a positive result in the Bang-SA game. A tie or a no result would leave everyone sweating on the final India-West Indies game (with everything potentially settled on net run rate)...
Ireland make their first bowling change as Rankin is replaced by medium-pacer John Mooney - can Ireland's electrician cut South Africa's power? Kallis stands tall to steer a four through point, but Ian Bishop on TMS reckons the rain's coming down harder now - "Ireland will feel at home!", the former West Indies paceman jokes. Van Wyk has 40 from 33 balls, Kallis has nine from nine.
A double change in the bowling, it's time for 18-year-old slow left-armer George Dockrell, recently signed by Somerset. Van Wyk rotates the strike with a single, while Kallis waits for a bad ball to come to him, rocks back and cracks a four wide of backward point.
From Lindsay O'Regan, Ayr: "Re: Andrew Robertson [11th over]... but justice is done when the third umpire spots it was the WRONG rugby ball. Someone in the crowd had touched it. KOB is reprieved and launches Steyn into the crowd for a famous victory."
Tidy medium pace from Mooney, two singles from it and the umpires still seem happy to keep the players out there, despite the continued sprinkling of light drizzle.
"I had dinner with Ireland coach Phil Simmons a couple of nights ago and he told me it would be very unfortunate if George Dockrell switched to play for England. I think the ICC needs to make sure Ireland gets more games against top nations, as their players will go elsewhere to get that experience if they don't get it with Ireland."
(The fielding powerplay, by the way, contained 31 runs and no wickets). Kallis drives at Dockrell, it's an arm ball which squirts off an inside edge and Kallis runs a single. But Van Wyk departs when he tries a cut shot and is bowled by one that keeps low!
In a rare outbreak of common sense, a drinks break is taken after that wicket , despite the over not being complete, as JP Duminy walks\u00a0to the middle.
Dockrell's over is completed as left-hander Duminy steers a single wide of mid-on.
Mooney's off, despite two tidy overs, and off-spinner Paul Stirling is into the attack, bowling round the wicket to the leftie Duminy who chops a single to the cover sweeper. Stirling appeals for lbw against Kallis, but the umpire shakes his head, and the burly veteran takes a single off the last ball of the over.
From David Moore, TMS inbox: "Re: 13th over: 'Can Ireland's electrician cut South Africa's power?' Mark, I know things are bad at the moment in Ireland but we do have more than one electrician."
Sorry, that was badly phrased! I was merely trying to crowbar in the little fact that Mooney is a qualified electrician - although unlike in the last World Cup four years ago, nearly all the Ireland team are full-time cricketers now.
Kallis guides Dockrell for a gentle single, Duminy knocks one off his legs. The teenager has 1-9 from three overs.
Duminy pokes a two through the covers, Stirling continues to toss it up to the left-hander but one more single from the over is all JP can manage. "It's still overcast and a bit glum outside," notes Alison Mitchell on TMS, but I think Ireland may have taken this score at 19 overs if you'd offered it to them beforehand.
On Twitter: "Eden Gardens filling up slowly... 6,000 so far with 25,000 expected. All locals rooting for Ireland with boy-wonder Dockrell in thick of it."
Just a single apiece from Kallis and Duminy as Dockrell continues his impressive economy (1-11 from four).
Kallis turns Stirling for a single, then the big man dawdles a little when Duminy calls him for a quick one - the throw comes in, Niall O'Brien demolishes the stumps and the third umpire rules Kallis is out!
From leadballooner: "Phil Simmons has obviously had a word in the ear of Ian Bishop as he is bigging up the Irish cricket team."
As Bish revealed earlier, they had dinner a couple of nights ago! Tweet us with the hashtag #bbcworldcup to get involved
Francois du Plessis is the new batsman, he'd have played against many of these Ireland player during his spell in county cricket as a Kolpakker at Lancashire. He and Duminy add two more singles from Stirling's over, but Ireland's tails are well and truly up here.
Eden Gardens remains damp, and both bowlers have fluffy white towels tucked into the back of their trousers - but the atmosphere on the South Africa balcony looks darker than the weather. Duminy and Du Plessis have a rebuilding job on\u00a0their hands (somewhat appopriate considering the redevelopment of Eden Gardens), three singles take SA to 100.
"George Dockrell told me he's got a place at Trinity College, Dublin to read science, but he\u2019ll have to balance that with his cricketing commitments."
More gentle accumulation from Duminy and Du Plessis (or should that be Du Miny and Duplessis?) against Stirling. And Lee James on TMS points out that scheduling has meant that after three games in nearly a month, SA now face three games in a week.
From Tom Dunn, TMS inbox: "Surely we could come to some mutually beneficial trade arrangement: a couple of dozen George Cross-wearing electricians for a George Dockrell?"
The Proteas pair show slightly more determination as Dockrell begins his sixth over, Duminy nudges a single before Du Plessis powers his way to a two and a single. Duminy adds a single to take him to 14, Du Plessis has six.
From Ian in Hartlepool: "It would be terrible to see associate teams like Ireland not in the next World Cup. Competitions like this are made for them, they are the underdog. How can you not love the underdog?!"
South Africa reach the halfway point of their innings, and Ireland remain lively in the field as Kevin O'Brien, who dropped a catch earlier, throws himself to his right at short extra cover to palm a likely boundary to the bowler. Duminy and Du Plessis add a few ones and twos, we've not had a boundary for 11 overs.
From maytoken: "Is Kallis getting heavier? Two consecutive run outs... hmmm."
Maybe his new hair's weighing him down between the wickets? Tweet us with the hashtag #bbcworldcup to get involved.
Dockrell takes a rest with impressive figures of 1-19 from six overs and Medium-pace Mooney returns, yielding a leg bye to Duminy - while substitute fielder and BBC Sport columnist Andrew White is out on the field too, throwing the ball in from long-on as Du Plessis steers a single. Not many fireworks for the Kolkata crowd, but this is great containment from Ireland.
"This is feeling similar to the Ireland-West Indies game, but the West Indies had Kieron Pollard to come in and hit 90-odd from 55 balls."
Du Plessis and Duminy keep plugging away with singles, but then Du Plessis pops a regulation catch to Johnston at slip!
"It's good for Ireland that they\u00a0chose to have\u00a0a slip in, to a right-handed batsman facing an off-spinner - although that one didn't turn much. The run-rate's only about four an over, and\u00a0South Africa haven't really got the leeway to attack."
South Africa have the luxury of a specialist batsman at number seven - it's World Cup debutant Colin Ingram, who you may not be familiar with (he's played 11 ODIs and five T20 internationals\u00a0since his debut in October\u00a02010, and has never faced England). He's off the mark with a single, then Ireland appeal for a stumping against Duminy off a legside wide - but his back foot was grounded, toes down, behind the line.
Vic Marks and Simon Mann on TMS reckon "this has the makings of a good little game" - especially after captain Graeme Smith revealed at the toss that a few SA players have had a bit of tummy trouble. Left-hander Ingram steers the Proteas' first boundary for 81 balls as he lashes one through the covers, before dabbing a leg bye off his pads. Fellow leftie Duminy, on whom a lot now rests, rotates the strike with a careful single.
From MoffAloff: "Surely the ICC now have to look at Ireland as a potential Test side?"
It's a nice idea, but don't call me Shirley. Tweet us with the hashtag #bbcworldcup to get involved!
Middlesex's Stirling is better known as an opening batsman than for his part-time off-spin, but he's been on the money today as Duminy and Ingram add two pedestrian singles apiece, and a rather haunting flute melody is played over the PA system.
From Mike, thinking of an early Paddy's day celebration, TMS inbox: "Mark, does an Irish victory here make them favourites to qualify in 4th spot? Assuming remaining results go to form - Windies beat England and SA beat Bangladesh."
Ireland would still need to beat the Dutch - and in that scenario, they would have to finish above Bangladesh on net run-rate. Barring any extreme Duckworth-Lewis scenarios, it's virtually impossible to lose a game and improve your NRR, so that would work.
Dockrell rattles through his over, Ingram dabs a single and Duminy sweeps for three as Mooney makes a good stop on the boundary. Even the "double the score after 30 overs" theory doesn't look good for SA at this stage.
Stirling is into his eighth over straight off the reel, just three singles from it. He has 1-27 from eight over.
Single from Duminy against Dockrell, then Ingram laces his second boundary with a calculated slog-sweep through mid-wicket. (He has two ODI cenuries to his name - one against Zimbabwe, one against Bangladesh, but his next highest score is 27 not out). A single takes him\u00a0to 14, and despite the two run-outs earlier in the innings,\u00a0Duminy is confident enough to tip-and-run a quick one off the last ball.
From Nathan_Murtagh: "While Test status may be a while away yet for the boys,surely the ICC needs to take us seriously as an ODI side and plan games?
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbcworldcup to get involved
Duminy, collar up like a strutting Cantona, reverse-sweeps Stirling (from outside leg stump, mind you!) for four, before jabbing a single to mid-wicket. Ingram flicks a two off his pads, that's the 150 up, and a\u00a0cut for\u00a0four means it's a rather expensive over for Ireland, which has put rather a dent in Dockrell's figures.
From Dan Gee, Swansea, TMS inbox: "Wouldn't the best way to involve the smaller teams and have a shorter World Cup be increasing the amount of smaller teams, but having groups of four? Like the European Football Championship. Yes, the smaller teams wouldn't play as much, but they would be there. And their presence is imperative for the development of cricket."
Ireland turn to their sixth bowler, Alex Cusack, for a bit of right-arm medium pace as they look to break this stand which is already worth 37. He strays with a wide, Duminy drives a single and Ingram delicately dabs one to third man. A slower ball is guided to the same area for a single by Duminy.
"I\u00a0was with England for\u00a0a Test here once when the crowd were a bit bored and a bit restless - Allan Lamb grabbed a policeman's lathi [stick] and did a bit of a Charlie Chaplin, which kept them entertained."
This was a rain-affected Test when India won the toss and batted, and their first innings\u00a0stretched into the fourth day, until David Gower brought himself on to bowl in protest!
After the compulsory ball change (old ball substituted by a cleaned and whitened ball of similar age), Ireland turn back to paceman Rankin as Stirling takes a rest after nine consecutive overs. Duminy knocks a single, Ingram swishes and misses with an attempted cut shot. A single takes him to 22, Duminy adds two more and there's a shout for lbw... not out but Ireland call for a review...
...and it's an easy one for third ump Simon Taufel as it pitched outside leg stump.
Lanky Rankin charges in for the last ball of the over, Duminy dabs and keeper Niall O'Brien makes a good stop... that creepy flute music's back, this time accompanied by plenty of drumming.
From Gil, London: "Surely the thing to do to include the smaller teams is to have two groups still but have all the Test teams in one and the others in another. It would mean that the World Cup would be more of a spectacle too as the one-siding thumpings would be less common, hopefully the more even nature of the teams in the groups would mean closer finishes. Of course it does cause one problem: which group would England go in?"
Ingram cuts Cusack for four, a single takes him to 27 from 31 balls. A useful innings from Ingram, who replaced the injured AB de Villiers in the SA line-up. Duminy flicks a single off his legs, and another well-placed cut brings Ingram four more to end an expensive over.
From DomaSAFC: "Just imagine how potentially good Ireland would be if you took arguably England's best one-day batsmen out and gave him back to them."
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbcworldcup to get involved
Duminy nudges Rankin for a single to third man, Ingram slashes another four backward of point then steps back to pull one from outside off stump through mid-wicket for four! A single takes him to\u00a040 from 46 balls, as captain Porterfield shuffles his fielders around. Duminy joins his partner on 40 with a single, though it's taken him 60 balls to do it. Time to think about the batting powerplay?
From Paddy O'cartwright, Somerset: "I think Cusack is the unnoticed hero in this tournament, he has bowled and batted consistently, but it's just gone unnoticed. Come on Ireland!"
With Cusack having leaked 14 runs in two overs, Ireland turn back to the tireless Trent Johnston, but Duminy steers his first ball for three and the singles and twos\u00a0keep flowing. Nine from the over.
From Dave, Newquay: "Apologies if this has come up, but what is the situation for England now? Would a SA win be better here? Thanks."
As I outlined at 0856, I think an Ireland win would be no bad thing at all for England as it would mean SA still had to beat Bangladesh (a result which would send England through if they beat WI) if the Proteas were to qualify themselves.
Still no sign of a powerplay as Dockrell returns for his ninth over, with both batsmen a couple of good hits away from a half century. But they opt for accumulation against the teenage twirler, taking singles off the first five balls before the sixth is hit straight to short mid-wicket. Duminy has 48, Ingram has 46.
From Nick from Salisbury: "I think the best way to get the 'minnows' involved would be through mini triangle series between the minnows and the odd ODI series with the big boys... That way it might stop players like Morgan and Nannes switching teams."
Johnston's shaved head is gleaming with sweat as Duminy reaches his 13th ODI fifty by drilling a four past the diving Dockrell on the extra cover boundary, although that's only his second four, his fifty came from 67 balls. He adds a two and a single to take the stand to 87 - but Johnston strikes with a cross-seamer that demolishes Ingram's stumps!
From Graham, trying to avoid working, Bath, TMS inbox: "Re: Dan Gee, over 34 - I completely agree with your suggestion about cutting down to pools of four teams. Personally, I'd like to see the system used in Rugby Sevens adopted. The top two teams from each pool would go onto contest the overall championship, with the other teams competing for a lesser prize."
New batsman Johan Botha sees off the rest of the over. He's a capable hitter, as is Robin Peterson who's yet to bat, as we saw against India the other day.
From Graham from Brighton: "What is the advantage of the batting powerplay please? Have watched the TV but am still confused! Thanks."
The batting powerplay is a five-over period, taken when the batting side choose, when only three fielders are allowed outside the fielding circle. It's supposedly to the batsmen's advantage as there are fewer men guarding the boundary, if they can pierce the infield or hit over the top - but it often tends to lead to wickets if the batsmen panic and think they have to slog. Most teams take it when two batsmen are in and well set, but England normally delay\u00a0theirs so James Anderson has to bat during it.
Dockrell to complete his spell, Duminy steers a single and Botha's off the mark as he guides one off his legs. Dockrell finishes with figures of 10-0-37-1 - well bowled, young man.
From James from Norwich: "Re: Lindsay [15th over] and Andrew [11th over] - Thierry Henry comes on to bowl the last over and clearly bowls a no ball but the umpire doesn't give it and KOB edges to William Gallas at slip."
If this innings goes the distance, Ireland still need to find four overs from Mooney and Cusack between them - it's Mooney to bowl, Botha and Duminy help themselves to four singles.
And there's activity on the SA players' balcony - Graeme Smith possibly making a "come on chaps, take the batting powerplay" signal...
From TKNLGY: "Would 250 be a bridge too far for Ireland given Steyn and Morkel?"
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbcworldcup to get involved
This may be our last sight of Irish spin bowling in this game as Stirling returns to bowl his last over. A single takes Duminy to 59, then there's a touch of the Eoin Morgans from Botha as he aims a careful reverse sweep for four. Two more singles mean it's seven from the over.
From Martin from Notts: "If Ireland win today and England beat the West Indies, wouldn't that put England through because South Africa and Bangladesh can't both win thei r remaining game? A tie would be massively awkward."
But\u00a0a tie is not impossible, and neither is a "no result" which in your scenario would leave England, SA and Bangladesh all on seven points, and awaiting the result of India-West Indies to see if one of them goes out on net run rate!
Still no powerplay! Duminy and Botha plunder ones and twos against Mooney, they may be saving themselves to give it some welly in the last five overs. Duminy goes aerial, aiming a big blast into the leg side but gets a fortunate top edge over the keeper for a first-bounce four. "That could have gone anywhere," notes Vic Marks on TMS.
From Anonymous: "Oh yes, let's change something that has created the compelling cricket we have seen in Group B, where any\u00a0four from\u00a0five if not\u00a0sox can still go through...\u00a0 All minnows have contributed and competed. This approach works best as we have had several great games and will ensure we get the best\u00a0eight\u00a0in the last eight..."
As many have pointed out, nearly all of those close games have involved England, who have been on a mission to keep 50-over cricket alive!
Rankin returns, Botha and Duminy keep plugging away with four careful singles, although they're denied a boundary by the tumbling Johnston on the boundary, who gets down and returns the ball with the aid of a relay throw from his skipper.
With South Africa having delayed it until the last possible moment, umpire Billy Doctrove signals the batting powerplay - woo hoo. Duminy turns Johnston off his legs for a single, Botha rotates the strike, then Duminy pushes a quick one into the covers and the throw just misses the stumps, disappearing to the boundary so Duminy has a five! Two more singles added, nine from the first powerplay over. "You can see South Africa getting 280 from here," admits Simon Mann on TMS. But let's not forget they chased down 327 against England...
From Louie from Birmingham: "Ireland try to bring on John Aldridge as a sub fielder but the umpire won't allow it and Jack Charlton goes berserk. Gets fined 10% of his match fee!"
Ah yes, one of the compelling images from USA '94 (apart from Diana Ross missing a penalty from five yards in the opening ceremony) - John Aldridge directing a V-sign at the Fifa official who prevented him coming on!
Rankin to bowl from the High Court end - this is his last over. Duminy runs a quick single as he tries to flick Rankin off his pads and it trickles into the off side. Two more singles added, but Rankin keeps it tight, has both batsmen playing and missing, and finishes with 1-59 from his 10 overs.
From Aqeel, bored in a lecture: "As long as England win their game we are through. I can't see Bangladesh beating SA. Do you?"
Well, it's not like South Africa have ever choked before in an important World Cup match, is it... err, better not go there!
John Mooney back into the attack, presumably he'll be bowling the 48th and 50th overs. Duminy unleashes a full-blooded full, which provokes the stadium DJ to play Queen's "I Want To Break Free" - he has 81 and that's only his fourth four (although he did pick up that five with those overthrows). A single brings right-hander Botha on strike, he stabs one into the covers and Duminy aims another ferocious pull shot but it only brings him a single.
From Anonymous: "Is everybody forgetting that Ireland still have Netherlands to play as well... two wins for Ireland would put them above England if they lose to the West Indies."
And if England fail to beat the Windies then they're out whatever else happens. Ireland would probably then have to overhaul the loser of SA v Bangladesh on net run-rate.
Trent Johnston walks in for his last over - "he's looking weary, he looks like he only has six balls left in him as he's given it everything," says Vic Marks on TMS. His first ball is a pretty rank full toss which is launched over mid-wicket for four by Duminy. That's the fifty stand. Duminy then\u00a0scampers a leg bye\u00a0and Johnston follows through to kick the ball at the stumps but misses. Botha works a single to bring the main man back on strike, and Duminy gives Johnston's figures a final dent by launching a massive six into the sky over mid-wicket, smashing a four and then running a leg bye to ensure he'll be on strike for the final over. He has 98, Botha has 19 and that over went for 17 - Johnston finishes with 1-76 from 10.
From GlenM: "Knowing England we'll draw with the Windies and then lose on penalties!"
On a more serious point, a tie would leave England on six points, but they would be unable to qualify as they'd only have two wins while any other teams on six points would have three wins. "Most wins" comes in to play before "net run rate" to separate teams on the same number of points.
Duminy edges Mooney's first ball for a single to take him to 99... Botha swings and can't connect. An attempted bouncer is batted into the covers and they run one, while keeper O'Brien looks to have taken a blow to the hand. Three balls to come, Duminy on 99... he goes for a big shot into the air and he's pouched by Kevin O'Brien who does well to hold an absolute steepler!
"In a curious way, that's a very selfless act - many batsmen would have taken an easy single for the century and then let the other guy get some runs."
New batsman Robin Peterson is the non-striker, Botha whacks the penultimate ball for two, then plays and misses at the last ball. Keeper Niall O'Brien shies at the stumps as he looks to prevent a bye, but the ball hits the stumps, it's not collected and they run a bye anyway. Ireland will\u00a0need to score 273 to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
"If it wasn't for that game against England, we'd be saying 'game over' with that score - but the Irish have made us blush before."
From Anonymous: "Re: 30 over comment about 'double the score theory doesn't look good, 133 from 30 overs', just passed 266 in 49th over..."
SA would have settled for doubling the score considering they reached the 30-over mark at 133-5, but Ireland will still think they can win this, having chased down 327 to win against England.
Right, the Ireland innings should start about 1315 GMT, I'm preparing for the text commentator's patented\u00a0between-innings-sandwich-dash, but keep listening to TMS where they have an interview with England's Jonathan Trott, while they'll also be looking at the history of Eden Gardens.
If you're wondering where Oliver Brett's got to, he's under starter's orders and doing live text on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. Do take a look, but make sure you're back for Ireland's reply...
From Ian: "Great final over by Mooney. Could easily give Jimmy Anderson a lesson or two."
Considering he was brought on to bowl some of the "slog" overs, he did very well to finish with 1-36 from eight overs
From Steve from Bolton: "What is a steepler?"
A very, very high catch (one that seems to go as high as a church steeple)
We're still about seven minutes away from the resumption at Eden Gardens. A quick parish notice: now that we're sharing the 81111 text inbox with Ollie's horse racing live text, please can you put "CRICKET" as the first word of your text. Many thanks.
From Anonymous: "With\u00a0three illustrious Canford Cygnets (Guy, Neal and Chapman) at Cheltenham, boring me rigid with tales of past heroics whilst waiting for Spirit Son to romp home in the Supreme Novices Hurdle..."
Ah yes, I've played cricket alongside those three miscreants for the Cygnets for more years than any of us care to remember. Ollie says Spirit Son is "untested on good ground and is the big unknown quantity, unbeaten in three runs."
South Africa are ready to take the field. There are some market stalls set up just in the courtyard of BBC TV Centre today, some of the largest doughnuts I've seen in my life, so you're probably lucky I've made it back. (Jacques Kallis might have been struggling to take the field for the second innings if those stalls were at Eden Gardens). William Porterfield and Paul Stirling to open for Ireland.
From Terry from Donegal: "Ireland will come close again, Joyce and Cusack to get big runs."
The speedy Dale Steyn takes the first over, captain Porterfield helps one down the leg side which speeds to the boundary for four quicker than Morne Morkel at long leg can reach it. Morkel is a ball-magnet as Porterfield works a two off his hips and the lanky seamer has to chase round to square leg to cut it off.
From Joe Elridge, Manchester: "I still don't quite understand - do England go through whatever happens if they beat the West Indies?"
No - it depends on other results. If South Africa win today and then lose to Bangladesh, it will all go down to the last match (India-West Indies) to see if England qualify.
The aforementioned Morne Morkel to share the new ball - none of the experimentation of opening with a spinner we saw earlier in the tournament. His first ball is a wide, and Stirling picks up a quick single as the leaden-footed Jacques Kallis just allows the ball to trickle to him at second slip. But Cap'n Smith shows great reactions to pouch Porterfield's edge off the last ball of the over.
From Andy (Saffer): "Ireland have done well holding\u00a0SA\u00a0to 272, they'll be fired up & given SA's record under pressure Ireland stand a good chance."
Stirling steers a single to bring new batsman Ed Joyce on strike. Joyce, lest we forget, is playing in his second World Cup - having played for England in 2007 and since requalified to play for Ireland. He's immediately off the mark with a single, Stirling takes a big swing and is dropped by the kneeling Morkel at third man as the ball rebounds for four! Steyn's understandably not happy, but he keeps it tight for the rest of the over.
Joyce jams his bat down to run a single to third man, then Morkel drops it short and wide and Stirling punches it wide of the leaping Duminy at backward point for four! But second slip Kallis redeems himself for his lethargy earlier as he catches Stirling's edge from the very next ball, falling to the ground as he does so.
Wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien is the new man in, Robin Peterson joins the cordon as a third slip as the left-handed O'Brien square-cuts for four. And in contrast to those enormous doughnuts [see 1314], I've just been presented with a tiny orange by a colleague. Once I've unpeeled it, I may need a microscope to see what's left. But it's the thought that counts.
Joyce pushes a two to third man against the fiery Steyn, but thinks better of an attempted quick single as the prowling bowler follows through to field off his own bowling.
From Biggus Mickus, still at work: "Time for Niall O'Brien's guaranteed innings of between 20 and 40. Why doesn't he get criticism for not converting?"
From Will from Maidenhead: "I'm still a bit confused. Would an Irish win help or hinder England?"
An Irish win would help England, in that South Africa would then have to beat Bangladesh to qualify. But if SA win today, they're through, and there's less pressure on them to beat Bangladesh - a win for the Tigers could help eliminate England (even if they did beat the WIndies) as they could go out to India or West Indies on net run rate, depending on how they get on in the final group game.
O'Brien cuts loose against Morkel with a lofted on-drive which sails over the long-on boundary for six and gets the Kolkata crowd on their feet! A single takes him to nine.
Great over from Steyn, a maiden to the watchful O'Brien. As Pommie Mbangwa notes on TMS, South Africa are the only team to bowl their opponents out in every game so far.
Big shout for lbw against Joyce from Morkel, the umpire shakes his head and they decide against a review. (The ball-tracking system suggests it might have brushed the top of the stumps, but it was an "umpire's call" decision\u00a0 - so Joyce would not have been out in any event). Ireland's total is boosted with a legside\u00a0wide, while Joyce takes a painful blow on the arm from the Proteas paceman. That's gotta hurt - and no runs off the bat for two overs.
Jacques Kallis into the attack, and after the left-handed pair purloin a single apiece, O'Brien feathers an edge to keeper Van Wyk, and it's not looking good for Ireland at this stage.
From Ben, London: "Re. Will from Maidenhead [6th over] - surely it's better if SA win this game - we all know how they choke in big games so who'd bet against Bangladesh if SA had to beat them to qualify?!"
But\u00a0if SA win today but then lose to Bangladesh, England would have to rely on India beating West Indies, or West Indies beating India by a sufficient margin to drag India's net run rate below England's...
New batsman Gary Wilson is off the mark with a single to\u00a0third man\u00a0off his first ball.
Wilson, who recently signed a new contract with Surrey,\u00a0thrills the crowd with\u00a0a four off his legs, before opening the face to dribble a single to third man. Joyce eyes up the large gap between mid-off and point, and thrashes a four through said gap.
"A cracking stat, courtesy of our friends on the telly - by snaring Niall O'Brien, Jacques Kallis has become only the second player to score 1,000 runs and take 20 wickets in World Cup matches after the great Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya."
As if to celebrate the fact that\u00a0the Cheltenham Festival is on, Billy Doctrove makes the Mick Channon-style "whirling arm" signal to indicate that South Africa have taken the fielding powerplay. The camera alights on a bird - a rook? A raven? A blackbird (seeing as it's perched on a wire)? Not sure - but I fear it could be a buzzard come to feast on Ireland's quarter-final hopes, which will be dead unless they can rally from here and pull off a historic win. Kallis keeps it tight against Wilson, that's another maiden over (as Wilson swishes and misses at a bouncer).
Spin enters the equation in the persona of Johan Botha - Joyce knocks a single, before Wilson flicks him over mid-wicket for a first-bounce four. The Surrey man knocks a single off his legs as Botha sends down a quicker ball. Joyce sweeps, misses and is given out lbw by umpire Dharmasena - but calls for a review.
It hit him a fraction inside the line of off stump, that was the major doubt... so Dharmasena's initiative is correct, he raises his finger, Joyce is gone, and another Ireland batsman falls.
Kevin O'Brien is the new batsman... ooh, that's dangerous as he offers no shot to his first ball, it hits the top of his pad and South Africa appeal for lbw... but decide against a review and O'Brien survives.
Wilson steers the miserly Kallis for a single,\u00a0O'Brien is struck on the back as he tries to duck a bouncer and as he rolls to the ground, wicketkeeper Van Wyk throws down the stumps. But some combination of glove and bat remain behind the popping crease, and O'Brien survives. Another short ball is pulled firmly for four by the big-hitting right-hander.
Slow left-armer Robin Peterson into the attack and WIlson tucks into him straight away, lofting a six over cow corner! But that's the only scoring shot from the over.
Kallis is still taking on the Irish pair with short deliveries, O'Brien and Wilson manage to pick up some well-run singles and twos, and the players have earned a drinks break.
From Danny in Somerset: "He has been labelled as Ireland's best batsmen but what has Joyce done for Ireland recently?"
His ODI scores since rejoining Ireland are 16, 32, 4, 84 and 12
Peterson rattles through his over, just one O'Brien single from it and the required rate is over six an over - 205 needed from 34 overs.
Having taken a wicket in his first over and been hauled off for his trouble, Johan Botha has changed ends. He sends one down the leg side which is signalled a wide, and they run one as well. Wilson forces a quicker ball for four, and Simon Mann on TMS thinks that may have been Botha's 'doosra' - a delivery which he's specifically banned from bowling by the ICC... expect to hear more if it was!
Ireland take three singles from Peterson's third over - Wilson has 24, O'Brien has 11.
More patient accumulation from the Ireland fifth-wicket pair, they pick up three singles before Wilson turns one down to fine leg, scampers the first and looks for a second but is sent back. Three of South Africa's reserve players - Wayne Parnell, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Imran Tahir - are having a big joke on the boundary.
From Simon Fisher: "Wow, since rejoining Ireland Joyce has only scored in multiples of 4. I think that's fascinating."
Wilson cuts Peterson for four, Lee James and Vic Marks on TMS suspects dew may be a factor here, but South Africa aren't getting in a big strop about it as England (and particularly Graeme Swann) were the other night.
O'Brien, batting in a cap with the spinners on, sweeps Botha for a single, Wilson pushes one to third man and has to dive for the crease as he runs a quick single. ("He dived partly to get between the stumps and the ball", notes Vic Marks on TMS - I'm sure we've all done that the odd time!). O'Brien nicks the strike with a single to mid-wicket.
O'Brien chips Peterson for another four over extra cover - but any hopes of a repeat of his heroics against England are blown away when he holes out at long-off.
"I think we can say that all of the games involving the so-called minnows have been fairly straightforward - apart from those involving England!"
New batsman is Alex Cusack, but it's Wilson facing, pushing forward to Peterson who appeals for lbw - after a wiggle of the hips from Peterson as he appeals, umpire Dharmasena raises his finger - but Ireland call for a review.
It's hit him on the knee-roll (and if Asoka de Silva's reading this, I can assure him that Wilson was playing a shot) - but third ump Simon Taufel agrees with his on-field colleague and Wilson's gone.
John Mooney is the new batsman, he'll really have to crank up the voltage if Ireland are to avoid defeat here... the left-hander pushes forward at his first ball and is dropped by the butter-fingered Kallis at slip! They run one, although it nearly hit the helmet behind the keeper, which would have earned the batsman five.
From Anonymous: "Why are umpires more lenient with wides in Test cricket than in ODIs? Why the inconsistency?"
Broadly speaking, because you need to take wickets to win Tests (and therefore need to bowl straight)\u00a0- but you can win ODIs just by preventing the opposition from scoring. So a tighter line on wides gives the batsman more of a chance to score.
Botha begins a new over as South Africa persist with the twin spin attack that has served them well in mid-innings. A single brings Cusack on strike for the first time, he's under way with a single.
Peterson appeals for another lbw decision against Cusack, it's given not out but South Africa review it...
It's\u00a0a tight one for Umpire Taufel in the TV umpire's booth - did it hit his pad's knee-roll before his bat? Or was it bat first? (No Hotspot in this tournament, remember). Yet more replays - the impact is more than 2.5m from the stumps, but the ball-tracker says it's hitting middle stump. Umpire Dharmasena has a chat with Taufel - before eventually making the "safe" signal. So once again, we have a ball which would have hit the stumps - but it's "not out"...
That delay took four minutes, by the way. You could take the view that the longer and longer the DRS takes, the more doubt there is - and therefore the batsman should (as per the Laws) get the benefit of any doubt. The reprieved Cusack edges a four to third man, before steering the last ball for a single. It may not have a big bearing on the result of the game (if it does, stand by for 26 thrilling overs!). But if you were Robin Peterson, you wouldn't be happy, and understandably so.
Single from the right-handed\u00a0Cusack, then leftie Mooney carefully sweeps Botha\u00a0for four, all along the ground. Alison Mitchell on TMS reads from the revised ICC "2.5m\u00a0rule" for lbws - I don't have time to repeat it in full here but can point you to where you can read it, should you wish.
A single from Mooney, but then Cusack's luck runs out when he tries to get after Peterson and has a big heave into the off side, straightforward catch to Cap'n Smith at cover. Peterson has 3-25.
Trent Johnston is Ireland's number nine, he drives his first ball straight to the diving Francois Du Plessis at cover.
From Anonymous: "If you'd bothered to post my last message about South Africa going on to get a good score then demolishing Ireland with the ball, I'd have been able to gloat about how right I was."
BBC Sport does not condone gloating...
Botha has been second fiddle to Peterson in the spinning stakes today, Mooney clubs a two and a single, while Johnston is off the mark with a single to deep mid-off. And Vic on TMS thinks according to the letter of the law, Cusack should have been given out during that marathon DRS review, given that the ball was hitting middle stump and the whole of the ball was below the level of the bail...
Johnston has a good old-fashioned tail-ender's slog, with a lofted straight drive over the bowler's head for six! A single means that's seven off the over, and the required rate was 7.04 before this over, but Ireland are running out of batsmen here, with only Dockrell and Rankin to come.
From a dissapointed Kyle in Dublin:\u00a0"How many decisions have actually been overturned by the DRS this World Cup? I can barely remember any."
Vic Marks has an interesting view on the DRS, which I'll bring you shortly...
"Because the umpiring has been pretty good in this tournament, the DRS has not been used for the intention it was implemented for - which was to eliminate the absolute clanger. So teams have been using it to, in rugby terms, nick the odd marginal\u00a0lbw 'against the head'."
Single from Johnston, then Mooney has an enormous swing but can't connect. 154 needed from 21 overs.
After a long spell of the Peterson and Botha show, South Africa turn to their third spinner - part-time off-spinner JP Duminy. Johnston and Mooney milk him for a couple of ones and twos, then Johnston lunges forward and feathers an edge to the keeper. I'd say SA have at least one foot in the quarter-finals...
"They have two reviews per team per innings in Tests, but Test innings can last up to 180 overs or more. In 50-over cricket, you can almost throw one away. Jonathan Agnew has a theory which I saw on his Twitter\u00a0- teams can have as many reviews as they want, but every time they fail, there's a five-run penalty."
Teenager George Dockrell is the new batsman, he tickles his first ball for four down the leg side.
"If you're going to use Hotspot in the DRS, it should be used in all series, otherwise it's unfair."
Kallis returns to the attack, but the fire has rather gone out of this game as Mooney and Dockrell knock a couple of singles. Ireland are heading out unless they win (which even their most fervent fans must admit is unlikely at this stage), while South Africa will qualify for the quarter-finals if they win - and they will increase their net run rate if they wrap this up sooner rather than later. Time for (one last?) drinks break.
From gmarah26: "Ireland may lose this by 100+ runs but\u00a0I still believe they are a better side than Bangladesh."
Tweet us with the hashtag #bbcworldcup to get involved, or continue the debate
Duminy continues the attack, bowling round the wicket to the right-handed Dockrell, who is solid in defence before knocking a single to the cover sweeper. A single takes Mooney to 14, then Dockrell laces another one through the covers to keep the strike.
From Jock, Perth: "The DRS is excellent as it has highlighted how good the umpires really are. Also there is no back chat from players about dubious decisions. Catching those potential village decisions that occasionally arise is needed anyway so it will stay."
Dockrell takes a fresh guard against Kallis, and one flies off the edge past Cap'n Smith at slip for four. The slip cordon is reinforced for the youngster, who nudges a single off his legs. But Mooney's resistance is ended when he nicks one to the keeper.
From Andy, Northumberland: "Re: Aggers' proposed DRS. Wouldn't unlimited reviews with five point penalties make more of a farce of one-sided games. Were a team just chasing wickets wi th loads of runs to spare, there would be even more of the 'suck it and see' type reviews that are the problem now."
"If Ireland had beaten Bangladesh it could really have put the cat among the pigeons - but if they beat the Dutch they'll go home with four points, which could be only one fewer than England."
Last man Boyd Rankin strides to the crease, but defends his first two balls from Kallis.
Duminy off, Morkel returns as SA look to finish the job - Dockrell has a big swing which brings him four over the covers, but he edges the next ball to Van Wyk and it's all over and the Proteas win by 131 runs. South Africa have qualified for the quarter-finals, and Ireland are eliminated from contention.
On Twitter: "On the review penalty suggestion, my plan is in fact 20 runs if wrong, not 5. Was laughed off air when I first mooted it!"
South Africa paceman Morne Morkel: "There was a bit of zip in the pitch tonight, Dale and I wanted to run in and bowl fast - I'm sorry I dropped that catch off him! It's going very well but I still think we've got another 5-10%."
At the risk of being a little England-centric for a moment - I'm not trying to diminish Ireland or South Africa's achievements, but I know many of you will be wondering how this result affects England's chances of making the quarter-finals.
England still need to beat West Indies on Thursday - that's a given in any event\u00a0-\u00a0but they still need at least one other result to go their way. If they beat the Windies, they will qualify if South Africa beat Bangladesh on Saturday. If Bangladesh win, then it all comes down to India-West Indies on Sunday. An India win would send England through, a Windies win would leave England and India needing to be separated on net run-rate, with the lesser side eliminated.
Ireland captain William Porterfield: "We started off well and got a couple of wickets up front, we were happy enough chasing 270, it wasn't out of reach but we consistently lost wickets. We've been pretty good throughout the tournament with our ground fielding, it's one of the things we can contrrol. We can take from this tournament that we've been putting ourselves in winning positions."
South Africa captain Graeme Smith:\u00a0"We put ourselves under pressure with some stupid run-outs but JP played a really good knock under pressure. Coming into the tournament there was a question mark over our lower-middle order but the guys there\u00a0have played superbly well in the last two games. We've got one game left against Bangladesh and then hopefully three good games in the knock-out stages."
Man of the match JP Duminy: "I've grown into this role nicely. [On his selfless big hit on 99 in the last over] I was trying to hit it out of the ground as one or two runs can make the difference over whether you win or lose."
From Anonymous: "It's very harsh on Ireland that their wonderful win over England is going to be worth nothing to the context of the tournament if England go through. They can take pride in their efforts though."
"Ireland can go home with their heads held high... South Africa go to Bangladesh with one or two teams hoping they win that game!"
To echo Vic Marks, well done Ireland - and well done South Africa. You can watch highlights of today's game from 2200 GMT on the Red Button and the BBC Sport website, then from 2320 on BBC Two. Until then, do keep yourself entertained with Ollie's live text on the Cheltenham Festival, while Sam Lyon is limbering up in the parade ring for tonight's big football action.
There's one game tomorrow - Australia v Canada from Bangalore at 0900 - but there's no TMS or live text for that one, as we'll be keeping our powder dry for the big one on Thursday\u00a0- England v West Indies from Chennai. England have to win (and hope one of the weekend's results goes their way) - nothing less is good enough. Play starts at 0900, TMS are on air from 0845 and I'll be here again in the live text chair from about 0830. Thanks for all your messages (and DRS suggestions!) today, and I hope you'll join me on Thursday.
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