Ireland batted first and didn’t do too badly. For a team that has only a win over Pakistan as their claim to fame, they did fare rather well and put up a bit of a fight with the bat as well. But Bray’s 41 was the only highlight apart from McCallan’s 20 at the end. 183 was never going to be enough, but it was better than what some of the other smaller teams had achieved in the tournament so far.
The West Indies reply didn’t start too well with Gayle missing out on a great opportunity to get some form. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, though, was in no mood to let the opportunity pass as he slammed the bowling to all parts and notched up an impressive 102 with 10 boundaries and four sixes. Ramnaresh Sarwan was hardly impressive in his 36 but he gave Chanderpaul company as the two put on 119 for the second wicket.
Brian Lara, though, is obviously happy with the way his team is shaping up. “After a stumble in a warm-up game against India we have started now to play pretty good cricket. I still think there is plenty of room for improvement, which is good. If you can win three games out of three and still have room for improvement, it’s good,” he said after the match.
Kyle McCallan, the Irish captain, though, is keen to do well in the next round and not become the “whipping boys” of the Super Eight. But we have the onus on us now to go into the Super Eights and not be the whipping boys. I wouldn’t say it’s the fear but it would be the one thing that motivates us to go and compete.”
The big games are around the corner and although two big teams will be missing, the matches promise much excitement.
On winning comfortably against the Irish team
"I am really comfortable with the guys in the field, we just need to up the ante when we have the bat in hand."
On West Indian batsmen finding form just when needed
"It is good for us that all of our batsmen have been able to get good hits in whereas some of the teams haven't used all their guys in their games,"
