As we know one of the world’s biggest event, The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 has begun. The Cricket World Cup is always full of surprises and it is unpredictable. The mega tournament provides the platform for many records to be set.
India’s campaign started off pretty well. Let’s move our attention to the Ireland vs West Indies match, which turned out to be the first upset.
Irish strength:
Ireland has the most exciting squad amongst all the dark horses. Led by William Porterfield, the Irish team consists of match-winners like Kevin O’Brien, who can take the game away from the opposition single-handedly. Apart from Kevin, his brother Niall can also pack a punch. Their all-rounders lower down the order can be very handy as well. The Irish team was expected to bring that “surprise” factor and they proved it that they can’t be taken lightly in this tournament anymore.
The big upset that everyone is talking about:
Ireland caused the first shock of the World Cup with a four-wicket triumph against West Indies in their opening match in New Zealand and the victory has surpassed their toppling of England four years ago. It is the third successive World Cup in which they have beaten a Test-playing team after a victory over Pakistan in 2007 and against England in 2011. This defeat is the latest flick to West Indies, who won the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979 but are now ranked eighth in the one-day standings.
We can say Porterfiled’s decision of fielding first supported in their victory. Irish bowlers handled the West Indies batsmen very sedately. In the starting overs, West Indies lost 3 wickets in a space of 14 balls and were tottering at 87/5 at one stage. However, Sammy and Simmons then got together and put on a 154-run stand for the 6th wicket. Sammy registered his highest ODI score and missed out on a century by 11 runs. But the Ireland bowlers who were magnificent at the start and the middle, lost their line and lengths during the death overs the West Indians ended by with a massive score of 304.
Talking about Ireland’s batting innings, they were superb with the bat and they did extremely well to chase that mammoth total down. After taking a defeat in the final few overs while bowling, the Irish batsmen started off brilliantly. Porterfield and Stirling were very good, putting on 71 for the first wicket. Man-of-the match Paul Stirling hit three sixes in his innings, propelling in the triumph.
Irish future:
Ireland has shown to the world that the tag of ‘minnows’ is not for them. They can keep producing such good performances. The win against West Indies has put Ireland in a good position to qualify for the quarter-finals, and that would be an accomplishment indeed for this determined team of cricketers.
This was just a beginning. More surprises and upsets are yet to come in these 49 matches. ICC World Cup, over to you now!
By Nikhil Gautam
