Wed, 02 Mar 2011 - England vs Ireland, World Cup 2011, 15th match Group B - Bulletin

Super Kevin O'Brien upsets England

A record century by Irish all-rounder Kevin O'Brien shocked England after his magnificent innings helped Ireland to successfully chase down a mammoth target of 328 runs in the group B match played at Bangalore.

Ireland looked down and out at one stage with half of their side gone at 111 runs during the chase but Kevin O’brein played a blinder of an innings and along with Alex Cusack put on 162 runs for sixth wicket to get England right back on the track.

Graeme Swann had posed problems for Irish batsmen by getting three wickets in his ten over spell conceding only 47 runs but once his bowling duties were over it was all carnage with English bowlers having no answers to Kevin’s belligerence.

There were some hiccups in the final stages of the chase with both Kevin and Cusack run-out but calms heads of Mooney and Trent Johnston made sure Kevin’s heroics didn’t go waste and completed the chase in the last over.

Kevin was brutal throughout his innings counterattacking English bowlers and scoring his hundred off just 51 balls-fastest in the world cup history-to take game away from the England who might have thought two points were theirs after scoring 327 runs in their batting display.

It was pure hitting prowess of Kevin that stunned English bowlers with all-rounder Jimmy Anderson and company to cleaners hitting 13 fours and half a dozen towering sixes.

His partner Cusack couldn’t have done better working the ball through gaps and making sure that inform Kevin gets more strike.

Cusack played a great hand by scoring 58-ball 47 with three boundaries and a six and Mooney’s not out inning of 33 off 30 balls was equally crucial hitting some important boundaries when needed big time.

England’s performance in the field and inability of their bowlers to stop Kevin and co. onslaught should worry their management as England dropped as many as four catches in their fielding effort and missed crucial run-out chances as well.

Earlier, Half centuries from Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell and Kevin Pieterson powered England to a big total of 327 runs in their first innings.

After opting to bat first, England went after Irish bowlers from the word go with openers setting up a good platform for their middle order, capitalized by 3rd wicket partnership of 167 runs by Bell and Trott helping England to post a 327 in their first innings.

England, however, will be touch disappointed not to have crossed 350 losing six wickets in last ten overs for 70 runs only.

Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott continued on where opening partnership of Strauss and Pieterson putting on 91 runs inside 14 overs, had left to pulverize and milk Irish bowlers at will.

Not only duo hit boundaries, every now and then, they ran quickly between the wickets and concentrated picking on gaps to keep the scoreboard ticking.

While Trott resorted to sweep shots to force spin bowlers off the line, Bell did so by using his feet and six over deep cover was a perfect example of that.

Bell’s crisp and matured innings came to an end when he was caught by Paul Stirling off Mooney for 86-ball 81 including six fours and a six.

Mooney was the most successful bowlers for Ireland taking four wickets in his nine overs conceding 63 runs with Trent Johnston taking two English wickets helping his side to stop English surge in the end overs.

Trott was unlucky to have missed out on his century getting out for run a ball 92 with nine hits to the fence but equaled the record for the least number of matches (21) to have been taken to score thousand runs.

Trott never appeared in any trouble picking up the singles and doubles at his will and was severe on anything off length as his sweep shots stood out during the batting display.

Kevin Pieterson looked in full flow to treat Irish bowlers disdainfully scoring his 59 runs off 50 balls including seven fours and two sixes.

While he drove majestically on both sides of the wicket, he took aerial route when it pitched in his half before playing a needless reverse dab only to lob it to gloves of Niall O'Brien.

Swann quick wickets put Ireland in trouble

Ireland were 113 at the end of twenty five overs with half of their side lost while chasing a victory target of 328 runs set by England.

Graeme Swann took three wickets to put Irish team into trouble while Anderson and Tim Bresnan took a wicket apiece.

For Ireland Paul Stirling and Ed Joyce scored 32 each before both got out while Niall O'Brien scored 29.

England register 327 runs against Ireland

Half centuries from Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell and Kevin Pieterson powered England to set a mammoth victory target of 328 runs in front of Ireland in their third group B match played at Bangalore.

After opting to bat first, England went after Irish bowlers from the word go with openers setting up a good platform for their middle order, capitalized by 3rd wicket partnership of 167 runs by Bell and Trott helping England to post a 327 in their first innings.

England, however, will be touch disappointed not to have crossed 350 losing six wickets in last ten overs for 70 runs only.

Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott continued on where opening partnership of Strauss and Pieterson putting on 91 runs inside 14 overs, had left to pulverize and milk Irish bowlers at will.

Not only duo hit boundaries, © eContent.in