Irish seamer Johnston battles for fitness

Veteran Ireland seamer Trent Johnston missed training on Sunday as he battles to recover from a knee injury in time for his team's make-or-break World Cup clash with South Africa on Tuesday.

Johnston missed the defeat to West Indies last week but Ireland are desperate for him to play in a match they have to win to keep their slim chances of making the quarter-finals alive.

"We will assess his fitness on Monday morning. He did not bowl Sunday and had some regular exercises and cardio sessions," Ireland team manager Barry Chambers told the domestic Press Trust of India.

The Australian-born Johnston has taken 52 wickets in 50 ODIs and was Ireland's leading wicket-taker in the last World Cup.