Windies rides Pollard power to pip Ireland

Mohali, March 11: Kieron Pollard inspired West Indies with a career-best 94 and a brilliant catch to beat Ireland by 44 runs at the World Cup on Friday. Pollard battered Ireland's bowlers for eight fours and five sixes in a 55-ball assault and then got rid of Irish danger man Kevin O'Brien with his diving take at long-on to help West Indies to a third successive win in Group B. It puts West Indies on the brink of a quarterfinal place.

Pollard's power-hitting and highest one-day international score had sent his team to 275 all out in 50 overs, alongside a maiden ODI century from opener Devon Smith, who made 107. Ireland was all out for 231 in its chase, despite half-centuries by Ed Joyce (84) and Gary Wilson (61). Joyce and Wilson had shared a 91-run stand, but they were dismissed in quick succession and Ireland faded away.

Sulieman Benn and captain Darren Sammy led the West Indies bowlers as offspinner Benn made early breakthroughs in his 4-53 and Sammy claimed 3-31, with the crucial wickets of Wilson, O'Brien and Irish skipper William Porterfield. After a run of nine one-day games without a win, injuries to key players at the World Cup and an attack on its team bus, a revitalized West Indies has now beaten Netherlands, Bangladesh and the Irish and is strongly favored for a place in the last eight.

Smith and Pollard produced contrasting styles for their career-best ODI innings. They were also both dropped off tough chances early on. Smith crafted his century in 124 balls after a slow start and eventually hit 11 fours and a six in a measured 133-ball knock.

Pollard launched a typically brutal late assault from No. 5, hammering 13 boundaries in an 83-minute onslaught and reaching his half-century in just 35 deliveries. The pair shared an 88-run partnership, inspired mainly by Pollard, off just 63 balls.

In Ireland's response, Joyce and Wilson lifted Ireland from a shaky start to drag it on course for another upset victory in an impressive World Cup campaign so far. Joyce stroked nine fours to anchor the recovery after off spinner Suleiman Benn had struck in the second over to reduce the Irish to 6-1, and then again in the 21st as the underdog slipped to 86-3.

Former England batsman Joyce proved a calming influence at No. 3 and Wilson backed him up with some inventive stroke play, slog sweeping a six over midwicket off Nikita Miller and then reverse sweeping the spinner for successive fours in the next over. The turning point came with the fall of Joyce and then big-hitting Irish hero Kevin O'Brien in the space of two overs.

Andre Russell sent a full delivery smashing into Joyce's stumps and Pollard saw off O'Brien with his stunning catch, taken running in from the boundary at long-on. Pollard threw himself forward full length for a diving take with his hands thrust out in front of him to snap up the chance off captain Sammy's bowling. After Joyce, Kevin O'Brien and Wilson had departed, Ireland surrendered its last five wickets for 32 runs.