A Kieron Pollard-inspired West Indies stifled a fightback by Ireland yesterday to win by 44 runs.
Pollard hammered 94 off just 55 balls and shared an 88-run stand with Devon Smith, who hit a maiden ODI ton, as West Indies posted 275 before bowling out the Irish for 231 in 49 overs at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
Pollard also took a blinder of a catch to send back dangerman Kevin O’Brien for five off seamer Darren Sammy, who took 3-31 off his 10 overs.
The win took West Indies to six points from four Group B outings and virtually assured them of a place in the last eight.
Ireland, with one win from four matches, must now beat South Africa and the Netherlands in their remaining league matches to stand any chance of progressing to the knockout round.
“We bowled where we wanted to and that got us the victory,” said Sammy, adding that his side had done well to stick to the basics.
Man-of-the-match Pollard said: “This innings is for the people who have supported me. Good game for us, important to keep the momentum going.”
The Irish began their chase cautiously after losing opener Paul Stirling in the second over to spinner Sulieman Benn (4-53).
Sammy was rewarded for creating pressure by bowling three maiden overs in a row when Ireland captain William Porterfield (11) chipped tamely to substitute fielder Ravi Rampaul.
Benn bowled Niall O’Brien for 25 before Ed Joyce steadied the innings with a 91-run stand for the fourth wicket with Gary Wilson (61).
Joyce kept Ireland in the hunt until he was bowled by Andre Russell for a 106-ball 84, containing nine fours.
Wilson took the fight to the West Indies but once he was dismissed in the 42nd over by Sammy, it was all over for the Irish.
Smith earlier laid the foundation for a big West Indies total with a mature innings of 107 off 133 balls after the Caribbean side were sent in to bat on an easy-paced track.
Smith added 89 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, opening the innings after Chris Gayle was ruled out on the morning of the match with an abdominal strain.
The Irish had to wait till the 25th over to pick up their first wicket when Chanderpaul (35) chipped Kevin O’Brien to short extra cover where Porterfield took a low catch.
He struck again three balls later in the same over when he uprooted Darren Bravo’s middle stump.
Ireland were left to rue missed chances from Pollard, who was let off twice early in his innings, with John Mooney messing up a simple run-out chance and Wilson grassing a catch off Andre Botha.
Pollard punished the Irish, racing to his third ODI half-century off 35 balls.
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