Ireland set 260-run target against India in ICC Cricket World Cup Pool B match at Hamilton

Hamilton: On a good batting wicket at Seddon Park, Hamilton, Ireland managed 260 from 49 overs against India in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 clash. William Porterfield, the captain, led the way with his innings of 67, followed by Niall O’Brien’s combative 75, which helped Ireland get to a competitive total. India’s spinners were the ones who put a stop to the Irish charge as they looked good for a 300-plus score after a good start early on. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs Ireland in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at Hamilton

The innings was majorly about two partnerships. The first was the opening stand between Porterfield and Paul Stirling as they put up 89 in 15 overs. Both Porterfield and Stirling were positive and made full use of the helpful conditions a Hamilton. The most remarkable shots came against the short balls. Porterfield got things going by pulling one for a six over square-leg and Stirling also followed a few overs later. Those shots showed how well the wicket was playing.  LIVE CRICKET UPDATES AND COMMENTARY: India vs Ireland in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

The Irish openers kept the pace going and were going at more than a run-a-ball. They were playing shots all around the wicket with the Indian fast bowlers finding it difficult to get breakthroughs. Stirling had moved to 42, before he was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin. The introduction of spinners halted Ireland’s charge as the run-rate slowed down and they also lost a couple of wickets. IND vs IRE: Niall O’Brien dismissed for 75 by Mohammed Shami

In came O’Brien, who looked comfortable from the outset. He was playing good attacking shots and helped Ireland get back into rhythm. Porterfield had slowed down at the other end as he got his fifty. The spinners had built the pressure on him and in breaking free, he was dismissed for 67 in the 32nd over by Mohit Sharma, as he tried to go over the top. In the first 15 overs, Ireland had scored 89. From there, until Porterfield’s dismissal, they could manage only 56. That tells you how much Ireland struggled against the spinners.

O’Brien though was intent on bringing the innings back on track. He kept playing attacking strokes; Umesh Yadav was hit over mid-on for maximum, Ashwin found one into the stands. Andrew Balbirnie gave him good support in that regard as they took Ireland past 200 with about 12 overs left. However, Balbirnie’s dismissal for 24 sparked a collapse that saw Ireland lose wickets at regular intervals. Once O’Brien was dismissed for 75 in the 43rd over, being the seventh out, Ireland’s hopes of a 300-plus total diminished. Ireland bat deep. The fact that Alex Cussack, batted at No. 11, reflects that. If one may recall, Cussack had batted in the middle order during the last World Cup.

India’s bowlers shared the spoils as far as the wickets were concerned. But, a lot of the credit should go to Ashwin, who recorded a spell of two for 39. Even Mohammed Shami continued his good form with yet another disciplined performance. India now have a good chance of making it five out of five in this World Cup.

Brief scores:

Ireland 260 in 49 overs (William Porterfield 67, Niall O’Brien 75; Mohammed Shami 3 for 41, Ravichandran Ashwin 2 for 38) vs India.

Full Scorecard

Photo Gallery

(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45)