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Ireland added another scalp to their Cricket World Cup collection, opening their campaign with a four-wicket win over the West Indies with 25 balls to spare in Nelson.
The giant-killing Irish had previously recorded World Cup wins over England four years ago and Pakistan in 2007, and looked confident on Monday in electing to field after winning the toss at Saxton Oval.
However, their bowlers faded after an excellent start, the West Indies piling on 124 off the last 10 overs to set a challenging 305 for the win.
Ireland assumed early control of the run chase, William Porterfield and Paul Stirling putting on 71 before Chris Gayle finally struck halfway through the 14th over.
Chasing a wider delivery, Porterfield bottom-edged a sharp catch to keeper Denesh Ramdin, and Ireland were 1-71.
Stirling and Ed Joyce put on 106 in 86 balls for the second wicket, Ramdin taking his second catch after Stirling (92) edged Marlon Samuels with one ball remaining in the 28th over.
By the time Joyce was dismissed for 84 early in the 40th over, Ireland all but had the win wrapped up.
Niall O’Brien maintained momentum with an unbeaten 79, although a late flurry of wickets kept Ireland on edge right until John Mooney hit the winning runs on the fifth ball of the 46th over.
Earlier, it took a match-saving century from Lendl Simmons to lift the Windies to 7-304.
After an early Irish blitz, spearheaded by spinner George Dockrell’s 3-50, the West Indies were struggling at 5-87 halfway through the 24th over.
Darren Sammy and Simmons put on 154 in 87 balls for the sixth wicket to haul the West Indies back into the match.
Sammy was dismissed in the 45th over for 89, caught by Dockrell at deep midwicket off medium pacer John Mooney, but Simmons went on to cane the Irish bowlers in the closing overs.
The nephew of Ireland coach Phil Simmons belted his second ODI century in 62 matches, taking 84 balls for 102 which included nine fours and five sixes.
He brought up his century with just three balls remaining in the match, knocking a low full toss from Max Sorenson through midwicket for four before slicing the next ball high over cover for Dockrell to take the catch.
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