Tony BeccaContributing Editor

Pakistan wicketkeeper Karam Akmal (right) celebrates after catching West Indies opener Chris Gayle off pacer Umar Gul (left) during their ICC WI CWC match at Sabina Park on Tuesday. Pakistan will play their second match in the tournament against Ireland today at Sabina Park. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

The first two World Cup matches at Sabina Park, on Tuesday and on Thursday, one between two big guns in the West Indies and Pakistan and one between two Cinderella teams in Zimbabwe and Ireland, produced one great performance and one exciting finish.

The question on everybody?s lips as Pakistan, one of the big boys, take on Ireland, one of the small boys, today is this: what can the fans expect

On Tuesday, Pakistan, the favourites to win the match, lost easily to a superb West Indies and on Thursday Ireland, after looking down the barrel on at least two occasions, escaped to tie the match against favourites Zimbabwe.

Although Pakistan are the overwhelming favourites to win today?s encounter, because of those results, because of Pakistan?s surrender and Ireland?s fight, no one is willing to bet ? not even though, on paper, it seems, and it should be, a mismatch.

Balanced team

Pakistan, despite their per-formance on Tuesday, boast a nicely balanced team, and despite Ireland?s fairytale performance on Thursday, should be too good, too hot for the unranked newcomers.

In captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan boast three of the best batsmen in the world. In Shoaib Malik they possess a good one, in Imran Nazir and Mohammad Hafeez they parade two good openers, and in wicketkeeper Karam Akmal, they boast a hard-hitter at number seven, and as persistent as the opposing bowlers may be, those batsmen should be too good for Ireland's attack.

And it should be the identical thing as far as their bowling is concerned.

In pacers Umar Gul, Rana Naveed, and Rao Iftikhar Aujum, in right-arm leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, and with Malik and Hafeez to offer some off-spin, despite the much-talked about talent of Eoin Morgan and the skill, the ruggedness, of Jeremy Bray, Pakistan?s bowling should be too good for Ireland?s batting.

Remembering, however, albeit that they were friendly matches, that they routed the West Indies for 25 in 1969 and then defeated them in 2004, only a fool would bet against Ireland ? and especially so after Thursday?s display when, after struggling at 89 for five, they recovered to reach 221 for nine, and when, after Zimbabwe had recovered from 133 for five to 203 for five, they stepped out of the grave and shared the honours or rather, stole the honours.

Apart from the big Australian-born left-hander Bray, who batted undefeated from the start to the finish of the innings on Thursday while scoring 115, an others like William Porterfield, Niall O?Brien, Andre Botha, and Kevin O?Brien can all be handy with the bat on their day, the other man to watch from Ireland is 20-year-old Morgan the middle man in the five lefthanders at the top of Ireland?s batting order.

As far as Ireland?s bowling is concerned, all their seamers David Langford-Smith, Boyd Rankin, and captain Trent Johnston ? are tidy practitioners. The man to watch, however, seems to be Kyle McCallan a good looking off-spinner who varies his flight and therefore his pace quite well.

Who will win today?s encounter? It should be Pakistan and easily at that.

Ireland, however, and despite their fielding, must be hoping, or dreaming, and apart from the fact that the ball, as they say, is round, they must have a chance.

There is one other reason why Ireland must be in it. After losing to the West Indies on Tuesday, if Pakistan lose again today it will be curtains for them, and that type of pressure could take its toll on a team that is famous for cracking under pressure.

On top of that, today is St. Patrick's Day and the Irish celebration would be heard in every corner of the world if they win, or even tie, this one.