India flexed their muscles and showed why they are one of the tournament favourites
Despite a brave effort, India were always in control as they beat Ireland by eight wickets in Hamilton overnight.
This game was always going to be one of the toughest for Phil Simmons’ side and so it proved. William Porterfield won the toss and elected to bat, hoping to run up a total that may cause the Indians some trouble.
The plan appeared to be working. Ireland’s opening partnership of Porterfield and Paul Stirling combined for 89 before Stirling fell and despite Ed Joyce going after just two runs from nine balls shortly afterwards, Ireland settled down to hit 142 by the 30th over.
At this point a genuinely big total, close to 300 or above, seemed on the cards with so many wickets in hand but then the Indian attack, so fearsome all tournament, cranked up.
Niall O’Brien and Andrew Balbirnie have been the Irish engine all tournament but just as they were hitting top gear, India broke them up. First Balbirnie went, top edging a ball by Ravichandran Ashwin and then Kevin O’Brien went after facing just two balls.
His brother Niall battled on, but when he went for our top score of 75, with Ireland standing at 226/7, hopes of a real big target were gone. The Indian attack swept up the tail with efficiency and Ireland eventually went all out for 259 with one over unused.
That was 35 higher than any other side managed against the defending champions all tournament but to have a real shot at an upset, Ireland needed some early wickets and twice good chances to make an early breakthrough were dropped.
John Mooney’s delivery forced a shot straight back at him by Shikhar Dhawan but the bowler couldn’t hold the catch that would have sent the batsman back to the pavillion with just five to his name.
And then, in the seventh over, with Dhawan on 11, he was dropped again, this time by a diving Porterfield. Those drops would prove to be hugely costly.
Dhawan and partner Rohit Sharma settled into a serious rhythm, battering whatever Ireland threw at them. They reached their 100 partnership in the 15th over and the duo would ultimately reach 174 before being broken up, a record for India in the World Cup.
It was Sharma who went first, when he inside edged a ball by Stuart Thompson, but by then the damage was done to Ireland’s slim hopes. In quick order Dhawan brought up his 100 and was gone before getting any further, caught by Porterfield after another Thompson delivery.
But the Indian run chase never slowed. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane carried on where their colleagues left off and Kohli’s winning runs were struck in the 36th over.
India look a serious force in this tournament, unbeaten after five games now. As for Ireland, it all comes down to the final round of games. A point against Pakistan in the early hours of Sunday morning will put Simmons’ side in to the quarter-finals, unless the UAE can cause a massive upset and get something from their match with the West Indies on Saturday.
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