World Cup 2015 Match Review: Ireland vs. West Indies; Ireland are no minnows anymore

This was a match between a team who is very much capable of beating the best in the game there are and a team which is struggling to gather itself together.

Ireland and West Indies faced off in Nelson, New Zealand in the match 5 of ICC World cup 2015. Ireland won the toss and decided to bowl first in the humid overhead conditions and their decision was proved to be correct. The West Indies started cautiously and slowly losing Dwayne Smith who made 18 on the score reading 30 on the board. Soon they were 87-5 thanks to a spirited spell of fine spin bowling of George Dockrell who picked up 3 wickets of Chris Gayle (36), Marlon Samuels (21) and Denesh Ramdin for just 1.

The recovery came through the unlikely pair of Lendl Simmons and Darren Sammy. The pair which is known for their hard-hitting game, played cautiously and build a much-needed partnership of 154 runs to take West Indies to a respectable total. Late fireworks from Andre Russell (27 off 13 balls) took the West Indian final total to 304 runs. Lendl Simmons made a much appreciated 102 while Darren Sammy played a terrific knock of 89 runs from 67 balls.

Ireland began the chase in a confident manner with openers Porterfield and Stirling going great guns against a clueless West Indian attack. Both of them added 71 in 13 overs when Porterfield departed for 23. Stirling then added a 100 runs with Ed Joyce before he was dismissed 8 short of a well-deserved century by Marlon Samuels for 92.

After that Ed Joyce (84) and wicket keeper Niall O’Brien (79) took the attack to the West Indies bowling adding 96 runs in 11 overs before Joyce became the second Irish player to miss out on a hundred, giving a catch to Darren Bravo off Jerome Taylor for 84 runs.

The Irish came into a spot of bother at the end of the match losing Joyce, Balbirnie, Gary Wilson and Kevin O’Brien quickly. But Niall O’Brien (79 off 60 balls) and John Mooney stayed at the end to finish the game without any further damage.

The West Indies have a lot to think about their game and playing XI. The batting is nowhere to be found in the top order. Ireland are now going from strength to strength with their batting in top form, their top 4 all got to 50+ scores today. They are certainly can cause a few more upsets in this group and have a realistic chance of ending in the top 3 in this group.

Paul Stirling got the Man of the match award for his match winning innings of 92.

Brief Scores:
West Indies 304/7 (L Simmons 102, D Sammy 89; G Dockrell 50/3) lost to Ireland 307/6 (P Stirling 92, E Joyce 84; J Taylor 71/3) by 4 wickets with 25 balls remaining.