Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels (right) belts a six to secure the winning runs as Ireland's wicketkeeper looks on during their ICC WI Cricket World Cup match at Sabina Park yesterday. Samuels scored 27 not out. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

West Indies skipper Brian Lara believes that the team will be able to give a concrete performance against world champions Australia when the teams meet in next Tuesday Super Eight showdown, following what he has described as a consistent overall performance by the team in a tough group stage.

"I think we played solid cricket throughout the three games," Lara said after an emphatic eight-wicket win over group D's surprise package Ireland at Sabina Park yesterday.

"We are building towards the bigger games, the Australia's, the South Africa's, but we performed very well and I want to commend the guys," he added.

The experienced captain, now in his fifth World Cup, is satisfied with the team's performance and content that at least seven of the bowlers have had an opportunity to play in the first round. However, he believes that there is still more work to be done by his team with the bat.

"We need to be more convincing as we move on further south to the Caribbean for the second round, we need to start taking hold of the situation," Lara remarked.

"We just need to up the ante a little bit with the bat in our hands," he added.

Tournament record

In fact the skipper, bolstered by the team's tournament record over the last few years, while refusing to rank his team in the Super Eight round does not only believe that they can give a good account of themselves against the team from Down Under but for the rest of the tournament as well.

"We have played well against Australia in the recent past and we expect to do well, especially if we play to our strengths," Lara pointed out when asked about the potential match-up.

"The last couple of world tournaments that we have played since the 2003 World Cup we have won one and lost in the finals of the second one.

"However, I'm not going to rank the team, we just want to grow as a team day by day, match by match, to ensure we get to where we want to.

"We have visited the final two spots in the last two Champions Trophies so why not the World Cup.?"