New Zealand win toss v Ireland, elect to bat

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Apr 9 (Reuters) New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first against Ireland today in the final World Cup Super Eights match to be played at the Providence Stadium.

New Zealand, seeking a win to bolster their hopes of a semi-final berth, made one change from the team that beat Bangladesh, drafting in off-spinner Jeetan Patel for injured seam bowler Michael Mason.

Ireland made two changes, bringing in batsman Peter Gillespie for the injured Andre Botha and all-rounder Kevin O'Brien for Paul Mooney.

The teams have never played before in an official one-day international and their last match was in 1994 in an unofficial one-day game in Ireland.

New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming was the only remaining player from that win for the Kiwis playing on Monday.

The weather was hot and sunny at the toss with no signs of rain.

Teams: Ireland: Trent Johnston (captain), William Porterfield, Jeremy Bray, Eoin Morgan, Niall O'Brien (wicketkeeper), Peter Gillespie, Kevin O'Brien, Andrew White, Kyle McCallan, Dave Langford-Smith, Boyd Rankin.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Peter Fulton, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum (wicketkeeper), Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Shane Bond, Jeetan Patel.

REUTERS PDS PM1931