Chanderpaul ton sees hosts home

The West Indies eased their way past Ireland in their final group game with a convincing and confidence boosting eight-wicket victory, picking up a very handy two points to take with them into the Super Eights.

The win came courtesy of a disciplined bowling display, at times breathtaking fielding exhibition and Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s sixth ODI century, and his first in the World Cup.

The Irish, who it is fair to say, have over achieved so far in the tournament, won the toss and elected to get runs on the board in an attempt to build some pressure on the host nation. It merely resulted in a very conservative effort of 183-8, after 48 overs, the time when the rain came in.

With West Indies having the same amount of overs to chase down the revised total of 190, the outcome of the game seemed a formality, even more so when Chris Gayle appeared to be in the mood to finish it before the first drinks break! However, after bludgeoning three fours, he was caught out by Dave Langford-Smith’s slower one.

Chanderpaul remained unperturbed by the loss of his partner, and continued to combine excellent touch play, with some lusty blows, and brought his hundred up in 108 balls, including 10 fours and 4 sixes.

Earlier in the day, Ireland’s best partnership came when Eoin Morgan joined Jeremy Bray at the fall of the first wicket. William Porterfield registered his second duck of the competition when he edged Darren Powell to the safe hands of Gayle in the second over.

Morgan has come to this competition with a big reputation, but has so far failed to deliver the goods, and after he had put 58 on with Bray, he fell attempting to hook Powell, only to sky it to keeper Dinesh Ramdin, who take a spectacular diving catch.

Bray was particularly strong on anything outside his off stump as he struch seven fours in his 41.

From there on the West Indies refused to let them get away. The economically impressive Gayle bowled his ten overs conceding only 23 runs, with two in his wicket column, and both Powell and Ian Bradshaw were too much for Ireland to contend with.

Jerome Taylor, at this stage in his international career, will be liable to concede ample runs, but his wicket threat certainly keeps the batsmen honest.

For Ireland, there was plenty of starts but there will be much disappointment with the fact nobody was able to take advantage and register a big score. Something that will need to addressed in the Super Eights.

The combination for the West Indies of Gayle and Chanderpaul at the top seems to be a good one, complimenting each others styles and averaging 49.15 for the first wicket.

Once Gayle fell, Ramnaresh Sarwan gave Chanderpaul good support, as they accumulated 119 for the second wicket, but it was Marlon Samuels brought this game to its conclusion when he dispatched a waist high full toss over mid wicket for a six, epitomising the ease of the West Indies victory.

Ireland will be strengthened in the next game with the return of captain Trent Johnson, who sat this game out, and whatever happens in the next phase should not detract from what the Irish have achieved in reaching this stage.

Ireland 183-8
Jeremy Bray 41
Chris Gayle 2-23, Daren Powell 2-24