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W Indies beat Ireland to top Group D

Shivnarine Chanderpaul collected his sixth one-day International hundred to lead West Indies to a convincing eight-wicket victory over Ireland in their rain-affected World Cup Group D match on Friday at Sabina Park.

Ireland made 183 for eight in 48 overs after rain stopped play and under the Duckworth-Lewis rules West Indies were set a target of 190 which they knocked off comfortably with 9.5 overs to spare.

With both teams having already secured their places in the Super Eights stage, the win allows Brian Lara's men to carry two points into the next phase.

Chanderpaul's sixth one day century, his first in a World Cup, came in 108 balls and included 10 fours and four sixes.

He was rarely troubled by a harmless Irish attack on a good batting wicket but the Guyana-born opener showed the full range of his shots in an innings of controlled aggression.

After the hosts lost Chris Gayle early on for 18, Chanderpaul was well supported by Ramnaresh Sarwan (36) and Marlon Samuels (27 not out) as the hosts clocked up their third consecutive win in the competition.

Lara's side will face a much tougher test on Tuesday though in Antigua when they come up against holders Australia in the opening Super Eights match.

It was a sobering game for Ireland who were second best throughout the contest -- struggling with the bat against the combination of pace and spin offered by the West Indian bowling attack and then unable to penetrate with the ball.

Although the Irish, without their injured Australian-born captain Trent Johnston, took a lap of honor at the end of the game to applaud their supporters it will be the memory of their exciting tie with Zimbabwe and shock victory over Pakistan that motivated the applause.

The highlight of their day was another aggressive innings from their Australian-born opening batsman Jeremy Bray who struck his side's top score of 41.

But once Bray had gone, driving Jerome Taylor straight to sub-fielder Lendl Simmons, Ireland were in trouble at 82 for four.

Kevin O'Brien and Andre Botha steadied the ship taking the total to 129 before O'Brien was caught in the deep by Ramnaresh Sarwan off spinner Chris Gayle.
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