Minnows Ireland stunned the West Indies at Nelson on Monday, beating them by 6 wickets to register the first upset win of the World Cup.
Ireland batsman Peter Stirling smashed 92 off 84 balls and England discard Ed Joyce hit 84 off 67 balls. While Stirling and Joyce put up a 104-run stand for the second wicket,
Joyce and Niell O' Brian added 96 for the 3rd wicket to put Ireland firmly on the path of victory.
Following the dismissal of Joyce, Ireland experienced a mini-collapse as Balbirnie, wicketkeeper Gary Wilson and 2011 hero Kevin O Brien were out in quick succession, reducing Ireland to 291/6. However, Kevin's brother Niell kept his composure and scored the remaining runs to guide Ireland to another famous win.
Put into bat, West Indies had managed 304/7. Lendl Simmons top scored with 102 off 84 balls while Darren Sammy made 89 off 67.
Earlier, Ireland had the West Indies in deep trouble, removing Smith and Bravo early and offering little incentive to Gayle to cut loose. Gayle eventual fell for 36 off 65 balls. Following Gayle's dismissal, Marlon Samuels and keeper Denesh Ramdin also fell quickly, reducing the Windies to 87/5. Simmons and Sammy however, came together for a 154-run 6th wicket stand.
For Ireland, left armer George Dockrell was the pick of the bowlers with 3/50 off his 10 overs.
Ireland have now beaten England, Bangladesh, West Indies and Pakistan in the World Cup. With Windies' loss, Pool B consisting of India, Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies as the major teams also splits wide open.
