Awesome task for Ireland

Ireland will be under no illusions about the size of the task that faces them when they take on New Zealand in today's World Cup quarter-final in Bombay - if they are to win a place in Friday's semi-final against England in Madras, they will have to create one of the biggest upsets in women's World Cup history.

New Zealand are the tournament's joint top seeds with defending champions England, who they lost to in the final of the 1993 World Cup at Lords. When they came to Ireland in the summer of 1996 for a series of one-day matches, in the words of captain Miriam Grealey, "they annihilated us".

Ireland's New Zealand-born vice-captain Catherine O'Neill concedes that the team will "have to play absolutely brilliantly" to have any hope of winning tomorrow, but they at least go in to the match in good spirits after their 182-run victory over Pakistan in their final group match.

Grealey (62), O'Neill (45), Caitriona Beggs (31) and Clare O'Leary (48 not out) all found their form with the bat against the Pakistanis but, even more pleasing for Irish coach John Wills, were the performances of the bowlers - Adele Spence took three for four in just five overs, while O'Leary (2-5) and O'Neill (4-10) produced outstanding all-round displays.

The Irish bowlers can expect their sternest test to date tomorrow when they come up against a quality New Zealand batting line-up that includes opener Debbie Hockley, the world's most-capped woman cricketer. The match will be broadcast live on Indian television station Doordarshan and the Irish will hope that it attracts a crowd at least as big as the 5,000 that watched their game against Pakistan. India, Australia and England have already won through to semi-finals.

TODAY: Quarter-final - Ireland v New Zealand, Bombay. Thursday: Semi-final - Australia v India, Guwahati. Friday: Semi-final - England v New Zealand or Ireland, Madras. Monday: Final - Calcutta.