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Irishman Kevin O’Brien blasted his way into the Cricket World Cup (CWC) record book overnight and in the process led Ireland to a first-time shock defeat of England, by three wickets in Bangalore. The record for the fastest CWC ton was held by Australian Matt Hayden, with 66 deliveries. Not any more.
O’Brien’s extraordinary century came up off just 50 deliveries, including 13 boundaries, and five massive sixes, two of them over 100m deep into the mid-wicket stand.
But 22 of those deliveries were dot balls, translating to every scoring shot being worth 3.57 runs – he had the healthy crowd sitting on the edge of their seats, or standing with sustained applause.
It was the sixth fastest ODI century in history:
* Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 37 deliveries.
* Mark Boucher (South Africa) – 44.
* Brian Lara (West Indies) – 45.
* Afridi – 45.
* And Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 48.
The team bonus was beating England.
Any side that posts around 300 should be calling the shots on dusty, slow, turning wickets – and England’s well in that category with 7-292 against the Netherlands, 8-338 in the sensational tie with India, and the 8-327 against Ireland.
When Ireland was 5-111, after 24.2 overs, England was calling all the shots.
But O’Brien, and a patient Alex Cusack, combined superbly. Their 162-run partnership came up in just 103 deliveries, before Cusack was run out in a mix-up with O’Brien.
And when O’Brien ran himself out for 113 off 63, the history-making win was just a breath away, needing 12 runs from the final 12 deliveries – the men-in-green needed only seven.
Taking nothing away from Ireland, England destroyed themselves by dropping five critical catches, and their bowling was very ordinary.
Especially England’s premier paceman Jimmy Anderson, who copped some serious tap from the red-headed O’Brien, who was in white-hot form.
Anderson finished with 1-49 off 8.1, having dismissed Ireland’s skipper William Porterfield first ball of the innings.
The others – Stuart Broad 0-74 (9), Tim Bresnan 1-64 (10), and Michael Yardy 0-49 (7), with offie Graeme Swann by far the most successful, and economical, bowler with 3-47 off his 10.
So England’s in deep trouble, and need to improve dramatically when they clash with in-form South Africa on Sunday.
But Irish eyes are smiling, none more so than Kevin O’Brien who played the innings of his life, and the tournament.