Well, the victory was sadly inevitable from the get-go with Ireland falling way short of a competitive target, and Shiv Chanderpaul then leading the charge with his first World Cup century. Irish eyes may not be smiling tonight, but they're hardly weeping, either - they did well, shorn of their injured captain, and playing West Indies in their backyard. They said before this match that such a set-up - facing Lara and co at home - made this their World Cup final, and they may have been outplayed, but their fans weren't outsung. And, of course, they now have the chance to move on to the Super Eights, where, in the words of their stand-in captain Kyle McCallan, they're not aiming for eighth spot. Thanks for joining us today, please do come back tomorrow for England's tussle with Kenya and Australia's head-to-head with South Africa.
West Indies vs Ireland, 21st Match, Group D at Kingston, Mar 23 2007 - Ball by Ball Commentary
West Indies won by 8 wickets (with 59 balls remaining) (D/L method)
waist-high full toss and that's bunted over midwicket to end the match in style. A convincing victory for West Indies here, they were never challenged, in truth
Martin now miming
right up there on off and that's prodded into short cover
driven out to mid-on
squirted out to midwicket
but it's worth hanging around for that one! Steps into that one, great use of his feet, and that's sent high and wide in front of midwicket
played off the back foot into the gap backward of point with a fine diving stop which just prolongs home-time for everyone, I mean, the fun for the crowd
outside off and that's driven straight to the man at cover
Martin now bursts out with "Don't sleep in the subway, darling." Got that, Mel?!
on middle and that's driven to mid-on
firm drive off the back foot to mid-on for a quick single
That's been a tidy innings by Chanderpaul - not the most penetrating of attacks, but he's worked out his runs well all the same
flights in a slower delivery, not testing, outside off and that's Chanderpaul's sixth one-day hundred, his first in World Cups
Mello loves it, as do Willo and Marto
the crowd erupt as Chanderpaul brings up his ... 99, with a crashing drive
defended forward
outside off and that's defended forward
Andrew White on to bowl now, while Martin launches into a good Petula Clark impression
beat him with the quicker one
this time the batsman comes down the track and drives to mid-on
more defence
defended forward
stopped by Morgan at cover, a bump-ball
on middle and that's driven out to long-off
Glove punching from the batsmen and it's McCallan to continue
cuts back from outside off in to the righthander who plays at the top of the bounce into cover
