adminIndia 260 for 2 (Dhawan 100, Rohit 64) beat Ireland 259 (N O’Brien 75, Porterfield 67, Shami 3-41) by 8 wickets. India confirmed the top spot in their group, took their winning streak in World Cup matches to nine, their longest and now only behind the great Australian run between 1999 and 2011, and also maintained their record of bowling oppositions out in this World Cup, claiming their 50th wicket in five matches in the 49th over of Ireland’s innings. Ireland scored the highest score against India in this World Cup, William Porterfield and Paul Stirling registered the best partnership — 89 — against them, Niall O’Brien came within one run of the best individual score against their unbeaten opponents, but India’s excellent offspin bowling and aggressive captaincy restricted them to 259, well below par on a flat pitch, small Seddon Park boundaries and given Ireland’s weak bowling. Shikhar Dhawan, with his second hundred this World Cup, and Rohit Sharma knocked the runs off with ease.
Porterfield and Stirling attacked the Indian quicks with gusto, reaching 57 in nine overs before R Ashwin dragged them back. A period of quick overs and slow runs followed, and when Niall O’Brien began to pull Ireland back out, Ashwin came back to start another slide.
Ireland went from 206 for 3 to their eventual middling total. This was the first time any batting side tested India. Unlike, say South Africa, India refused to go on the defensive. Ravindra Jadeja didn’t have a great day, but Suresh Raina filled in superbly.
He took out Ed Joyce to go with Ashwin’s scalps of Stirling and the in-form Andy Balbirnie. Between them Ashwin and Raina bowled 20 overs for 78 runs. That’s where the match turned. — Cricinfo.
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter