Veteran opener Paul Stirling yesterday slammed an unbeaten 66 as Ireland made the T20 World Cup Super 12 and sent two-time champions the West Indies crashing out.
Disciplined bowling restricted the Caribbean side to 146-5, with Gareth Delany taking a career-best 3-16, before Ireland romped to their target for the loss of just one wicket with 15 deliveries to spare in Hobart.
Stirling, 32, at his seventh World Cup, shared in a blistering 73-run opening stand with captain Andy Balbirnie to supercharge Ireland’s run chase.
Photo: AFP
The final Super 12 slot went to Zimbabwe, who beat Scotland by five wickets.
“It means everything. We had a disappointing loss last year at the same stage,” Balbirnie said. “Losing the first game and then coming back and beating a two-time champion in a must-win game ... just couldn’t be prouder. Pretty emotional finish to the game.”
The West Indies won the tournament in 2012 and 2016, but arrived in Australia with a new-look team after the likes of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard retired, and Andre Russell was overlooked.
They stumbled badly in their opening match against Scotland, losing by 42 runs, before recovering to emphatically beat Zimbabwe.
However, they again hit the wall against Ireland.
“It’s tough, we haven’t batted well in this tournament at all,” West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran said. “This is a learning experience for us. We have disappointed our fans and ourselves. It’s definitely hurting.”
After the West Indies won the toss and batted at a breezy Bellerive Oval, the Ireland bowlers sent down nine dot balls among their first 15.
Brandon King (62 not out) was dropped early and made the most of it, crunching four boundaries to steer the West Indies to 67-2 after 10 overs, with Evin Lewis (13) his most productive partner.
In reply, Ireland got off to a cracking start with Stirling and Balbirnie on a mission, blazing 54 off the first five overs.
Akeal Hosein had Balbirnie caught for 37, but Stirling kept going and reached his 21st T20 half-century with another boundary and with Lorcan Tucker (45 not out) saw them home.
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