Ireland have defeated the West Indies by 4 wickets in the Cricket World Cup pool match on Monday at Saxton Oval. Chasing down 7/304 the underdogs reached the total, hitting 6/307 from 45.5 overs.
Ed Joyce and Paul Stirling led the way for the Shamrocks combining for a 106 run third-wicket partnership from only 84 balls. Joyce continued on after the dismissal of Stirling, to hit 96 more runs from 64 balls with the impressive Nial O’Brien who smashed 62 runs from 42 balls.
West Indies were on the ropes early. At 5/87 the Caribbean Kings were set for an embarrassing result as Irish quick George Dockrell bltzed through the top order with 3/50. Dockrell picked up the key wickets of Gayle (36), Samuels (21) and Ramdin (1).
An important partnership formed between Lendl Simmons (102) and Darren Sammy (89). The two put on 154 from 127 balls to reinsert the Windies back into the match. Simmons smashed his century from 84 balls which included 5 sixes while Sammy’s 89 was struck from only 67 balls.
“You want to take more wickets, but I don’t think on that pitch you can take anything away from the way Lendl and Sammy played,” commented Irleand’s captain William Porterfield.
Ireland were cruising all the way. A solid 70-run opening was backed up with 214 runs from the next three wickets. The Irish top order will be keen to keep this form going throughout the tournament.
“We prepared to come into this game to win, we’re gonna prepare to go into the UAE game to win, South Africa after that and then so on,” commented Porterfield.
“I hate the term upsets … I don’t see it as an upset.”
West Indies were firm favourites and after managing to post 300-plus, would have been expected to go on with the job.
“It was a tough loss, putting 300 runs on the board we backed ourselves to defend it,” said captain Jason Holder after the match.
“We need to tighten up and be better in the games to come.”
