The Blarney Army were very happy indeed.
While you were nice and cosy in your bed dreaming of waking up all fresh for Monday morning, the Ireland cricket team were kicking ass at the World Cup with a stunning four-wicket win over the West Indies.
Ireland ran out quite comfortable winners winners in the end, reaching 307-6 with five overs to spare in response to the Windies 304-7.
Paul Stirling made 92 while Ed Joyce totalled 84 and Niall O Brien finished on 79 not out.
Ireland got the best possible start with William Porterfield winning the toss. Much of the pre-match talk was the about the pitches in New Zealand and Australia being much better suited to seamers rather than spinner but George Dockrell and Andy McBrine were outstanding.
Dockrell finished with figures of 3-50, while McBrine, though he failed to take a wicket, limited the West Indies to 26 runs from his 10 overs.
The West Indies managed 304 for seven from 50 overs, with the partnership of Lendl Simmons and Darren Sammy their best of the evening, as they secured a 154 run for the sixth wicket.
Ireland’s run chase began in encouraging style as they racked up 71 for the first wicket from Porterfield and Paul Stirling, and we were at 100 by the 19th wicket.
Ireland reached 177 for two in the 28th over after some fabulous work by Ed Joyce who was eventually dismissed at 273-3 in the 40th over .It looked like we were on course for a famous win until a mini-collapse. Andy Balbirnie was caught by Bravo for a run-a-ball nine, and then Kevin O’Brien was run out without scoring.
However the men in the brightest green shirts imaginable recovered and Niall O’Brien saw Ireland secure the win as he finished unbeaten on 79 from 60 deliveries
It’s the third World Cup in a row where Ireland have beaten a Test nation and we now go on to face the United Arab Emirates in Brisbane on February 25, while the Windies will have to try and recover in time for their clash with Pakistan in Christchurch this Friday.
Ireland know that if they can beat the UAE and Zimbabwe they will almost certainly secure a place in the quarter final.
