India vs. Ireland: Highlights, Scorecard, Report from Cricket World Cup
Defending champions India powered on in the Cricket World Cup, with an emphatic eight-wicket win over Ireland to make it five victories from as many games in the tournament.
Despite an 89-run opening stand and a fine 75 from Niall O’Brien, Ireland were bundled out for 259.
It was a target that looked on the low side and India chased it down with the minimum of fuss to wrap up top spot in Pool B.
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It is a crushing defeat for Ireland and damages their run rate. They still occupy the final qualification spot with one game remaining, and a win over Pakistan will take them through. However, defeat combined with a win for West Indies over UAE could send them home.
Ireland have often favoured chasing but, on this occasion in Hamilton, skipper Will Porterfield won the toss and elected to bat.
For a chunk of the innings it looked an extremely astute decision as he and Paul Stirling scored with freedom at the top of the order.
India switched from pace to spin, and it checked the momentum and produced the first wicket as Ravichandran Ashwin sent Stirling back to the pavilion.
Porterfield went past 50, but Ed Joyce fell to the spin of Suresh Raina.
O’Brien came in and scored at a run a ball to drive momentum back into the innings. Porterfield departed for 67, but Andy Balbirnie gave support to his No. 4.
Unfortunately, though, Balbirnie’s 24 was the only real support for O’Brien who witnessed a collapse at the other end and India restricted Ireland to 259.
| Batsman | How Out | Runs | Minutes | Balls |
| WTS Porterfield* | c Yadav b MM Sharma | 67 | 106 | 93 |
| PR Stirling | c Rahane b Ashwin | 42 | 60 | 41 |
| EC Joyce | b Raina | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| NJ O'Brien | c Yadav b Mohammed Shami | 75 | 88 | 75 |
| A Balbirnie | c Mohammed Shami b Ashwin | 24 | 28 | 24 |
| KJ O'Brien | c †Dhoni b Mohammed Shami | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| GC Wilson† | c Rahane b Jadeja | 6 | 9 | 7 |
| SR Thompson | run out (Kohli) | 2 | 10 | 2 |
| JF Mooney | not out | 12 | 36 | 16 |
| GH Dockrell | c †Dhoni b Yadav | 6 | 14 | 12 |
| AR Cusack | c Yadav b Mohammed Shami | 11 | 18 | 13 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 9) | 11 | ||
| Total | (all out; 49 overs; 191 mins) | 259 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| UT Yadav | 4 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| Mohammed Shami | 9 | 0 | 41 | 3 |
| MM Sharma | 6 | 0 | 38 | 1 |
| RA Jadeja | 7 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| R Ashwin | 10 | 1 | 38 | 2 |
| SK Raina | 10 | 0 | 40 | 1 |
| RG Sharma | 3 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
Ireland’s bowling has looked limited throughout the tournament, and they had nothing to knock India from their stride.
Pace was handled with ease, while the spinners were treated with disdain as Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan put on 174 for the first wicket.
Sharma departed when attempting to cut a ball that was too close to him from Stuart Thompson and chopped on to his stumps.
"WATCH: Thompson makes the breakthrough as Rohit departs for 64 after playing on. #CWC15 #fireitup http://t.co/agiaKhgjQj
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 10, 2015"
Any delight Ireland felt was short-lived as Sharma was replaced at the crease by Virat Kohli.
Kohli was content to play second fiddle to Dhawan who thrilled the capacity crowd by racking up his eighth ODI century.
"Congrats Shikhar Dhawan, an 8th ODI 100! #INDvsIRE #CWC15 http://t.co/8mHcPEzJcf pic.twitter.com/3qf2vFj9h4
— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) March 10, 2015"
Dhawan departed soon after passing three figures. Porterfield took an excellent catch with the ball dropping over his shoulder, but the damage had been done as India cruised home with over 13 overs remaining.
| Batsman | How Out | Runs | Minutes | Balls |
| RG Sharma | b Thompson | 64 | 66 | |
| S Dhawan | c Porterfield b Thompson | 100 | 85 | |
| V Kohli | not out | 44 | 42 | |
| AM Rahane | not out | 33 | 28 | |
| Extras | (b 4, lb 2, w 13) | 19 | ||
| Total | (2 wickets; 36.5 overs) | 260 | ||
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
| JF Mooney | 6 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| AR Cusack | 8 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| SR Thompson | 6 | 0 | 45 | 2 |
| GH Dockrell | 5 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| PR Stirling | 5 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| KJ O'Brien | 6.5 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
Ireland may be on the canvas at present, but they remain in with a chance of qualification—as their fans were quick to point out in a jibe aimed at woeful England.
"You've got to laugh. especially if you're an Ireland fan! England, not so much. #CWC15 http://t.co/8mHcPEzJcf pic.twitter.com/kCzzwA7oaw
— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) March 10, 2015"
With one game to play, Ireland can still qualify for the knockout stages—which is more than can be said for England who crashed out on Monday.
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