Hobart – Paul Stirling’s undefeated 66 helped Ireland qualify for the Twenty20 World Cup’s Super 12 on Friday, while two-time champions West Indies were eliminated.
In Hobart, disciplined bowling limited the Caribbean team to 146-5, with Gareth Delany getting a career-best 3-16, before the Irish reached their mark with one wicket down and 15 balls remaining.
Stirling, 32, in his seventh World Cup, contributed to a scorching opening stand of 73 runs with Andy Balbirnie, which accelerated Ireland’s run chase.
Friday evening’s Zimbabwe-Scotland match will determine the final Super 12 spot.
“It signifies everything. We suffered a disappointing loss at the same level last year “explained Balbirnie.
“Losing the first game and then defeating a two-time champion in a must-win game… I could not be more pleased. Extremely dramatic conclusion to the game.”
After Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, and Kieron Pollard retired and Andre Russell was ignored, the West Indies travelled to Australia with a new-look lineup.
They fell severely in their first encounter against Scotland, losing by 42 runs, before bouncing back to defeat Zimbabwe with authority.
But Ireland, who are participating in their seventh consecutive World Cup and had never advanced past the first round before to 2009, once again hit a roadblock.
West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran stated, “It’s difficult, given we have not batted well in this tournament at all.”
“This is an educational opportunity for us. We have let our fans and ourselves down. It is absolutely painful.”
On assignment
After the West Indies won the toss and elected to bat at Hobart’s windy Bellerive Oval, the Irish bowlers delivered nine dot balls in their first 15 deliveries.
Kyle Mayers blasted at a delivery from Barry McCarthy out of frustration and was caught at mid-off by Harry Tector for one.
The threatening Johnson Charles smashed 4-4-6 off Curtis Campher, but his good fortune ran out in the next over as he edged Simi Singh to Campher for 24.
Brandon King capitalized on being dropped two balls later by smashing four boundaries to propel the West Indies to 67-2 at the halfway mark.
Soon after receiving treatment for a hamstring injury, Evin Lewis was dismissed for 13 runs, ending a 44-run partnership.
Pooran (13) and Rovman Powell (6) were dismissed as King (62 not out) attempted to advance the score.
With Stirling and Balbirnie on a mission, Ireland responded by scoring 54 runs in the first five overs with eight fours and four sixes.
The spin of Akeel Hosein ultimately gave the West Indies a breakthrough in the eighth over, when Balbirnie was caught by Mayers for 37 off 23 balls, bringing to an end a pivotal opening stand.
Stirling, in his 177th international, persisted and scored his 21st T20 half-century with another boundary, while Lorcan Tucker (45 not out) guided them to victory.