Kevin’s record ton helps Ireland stun England

Updated at: 2205 PST,  Wednesday, March 02, 2011

BANGALORE: Kevin O’Brien’s record century helped Ireland to hand England a humiliating three-wicket defeat with five balls remaining in their World Cup Group B match here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.Chasing a huge total of 328 runs, Ireland set a World Cup record of achieving the highest winning target as they finished on 329 for seven to pull off the sensational victory with five balls to spare.The previous highest successful run chase was 313 made by Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe in the 1992 World Cup.The main architect of the Ireland’s astonishing victory was Kevin O’Brien, who made his second One-day International century from only 50 balls – the fastest ever hundred in World Cups. He broke the previous fastest century record off 66 balls made by Australia’s Matthew Hayden against South Africa at St Kitts in 2007.O'Brien's whirlwind innings of 113 off 63 balls, including six sixes and 13 fours, ended when he was run out going for a second run by Stuart Broad's throw to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.He was ably supported by Alex Cusack who made 47. Both added 162 runs for the sixth wicket partnership. Earlier, England piled up 327 runs for the loss of seven wickets after captain Andrew Strauss won the toss.Strauss and Kevin Pietersen opened the innings and provided a good start of 91 runs before Strauss was bowled by George Dockrell for 34.Pietersen also went after getting his 22nd one-day international half-century, caught behind off Paul Stirling for 59. Later, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell got together to take England to 278, adding 167 runs for the third wicket.Then, John Mooney and Trent Johnston struck back and began sending England batsmen to pavilion at regular short intervals. First to go was Bell caught Stirling b Mooney for his 86-ball 81 with eight fours and a six.The runs later, Trott was bowled by Mooney for 92, eight short of his fourth ODI hundred. His 92-ball innings was laced with nine boundaries Paul Collingwood could make only 16 from 11 balls and he was also dismissed by Mooney who later got Tim Bresnan out for three.

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Irish hero O'Brien hails greatest innings

Updated at: 2348 PST,  Wednesday, March 02, 2011

BANGALORE: Batting hero Kevin O'Brien Wednesday hailed the greatest innings of his life after his 113 off just 63 balls propelled Ireland to a famous World Cup win over England.O'Brien came to the crease with Ireland struggling on 106 for four chasing a mammoth 327 for eight and flayed the English attack, striking six sixes in a 50-ball century, the fastest World Cup ton of all time.In an astonishing display of power-hitting he obliterated the previous record held by Australia's Matthew Hayden, who hit 100 off 66 balls against South Africa at St Kitts in the 2007 tournament."I don't think it's quite sunk in," said 26-year-old O'Brien, after another famous win to follow Ireland's shock World Cup triumph over Pakistan in 2007. "It's probably the best innings I've ever played. I just hit the ball pretty well and got a bit of luck and things went my way. I just kept going and kept attacking."When we were 111-5 I said to myself we could have just pottered around and got 220 off 50 overs for eight or nine and the game would have been pretty boring to watch."But I just chanced my arm and said I was going to be as positive as I can and got a few away and didn't look back."O'Brien praised his team-mates, saying they had stuck at their task in the field, restricting England towards the end of their innings."We restricted them to a target that we felt we could chase. We saw the game last week, England and India. It's a high-scoring ground and a great wicket."Irish skipper William Porterfield hailed the "greatest" day for Irish cricket."We believed in ourselves. We had a bit of an upset the other night when we should have knocked off 200 against Bangladesh but to bounce back the way that the lads have bounced back, especially after losing a few early wickets and being 111-5, was a great effort," he said."It will be a good party back home but it's still only one game we've won from two."We've still got four games left in this tournament so we'll be looking to put in a performance like that every game and you never know from there. We've still got a great chance of qualifying for the second phase."

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England amass 327-8 against Ireland

Updated at: 1801 PST,  Wednesday, March 02, 2011

BANGALORE: England utilizing the advantage of batting pitch piled up 327 runs for the loss of seven wickets against Ireland in their Group B match here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.After captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and elected to bat, he and Kevin Pietersen opened the innings and provided a good start of 91 runs before Strauss was bowled by George Dockrell for 34.Pietersen also went after getting his 22nd one-day international half-century, caught behind off Paul Stirling for 59. Later, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell got together to take England to 278, adding 167 runs for the third wicket.Then, John Mooney and Trent Johnston struck back and began sending England batsmen to pavilion at regular short intervals. First to go was Bell caught Stirling b Mooney for his 86-ball 81 with eight fours and a six.The runs later, Trott was bowled by Mooney for 92, eight short of his fourth ODI hundred. His 92-ball innings was laced with nine boundaries.Paul Collingwood could make only 16 from 11 balls and he was also dismissed by Mooney who later got Tim Bresnan out for three. Johnston also captured two wickets, dismissing Matt Prior for six and Michael Yardy for four while Graeme Swann remained not out on nine. Mooney finished on four for 63 and Johnston claimed two wickets.England are looking to keep up their unbeaten run at the tournament after beating Netherlands and holding favourites India to a nail-biting tie. Ireland are seeking their first win in this tournament after going down to co-hosts Bangladesh by 27 runs in their opening match.Fast bowler Stuart Broad returned from illness and replaced fellow seamer Ajmal Shahzad in the only change to the England side that dramatically tied its previous group game with co-hosts India on Sunday.That meant swing specialist James Anderson kept his place despite conceding 91 runs against India -- the most by an England bowler in any World Cup match.Ireland, who lost their opener to Bangladesh by 27 runs, brought in Australia-born all-rounder Alex Cusack for Andrew White and batsman Gary Wilson came in for seamer Andre Botha, who injured his groin during the warm-up.

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England win toss, bat against Ireland

Updated at: 1335 PST,  Wednesday, March 02, 2011

BANGALORE: England captain Andrew Strauss has won the toss and elected to bat against Ireland in their Group B match here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on WednesdayEngland will be looking to keep up their unbeaten run at the tournament after beating Netherlands and holding favourites India to a nail-biting tie. Fast bowler Stuart Broad returned from illness and replaced fellow seamer Ajmal Shahzad in the only change to the England side that dramatically tied its previous group game with co-hosts India on Sunday.That meant swing specialist James Anderson kept his place despite conceding 91 runs against India -- the most by an England bowler in any World Cup match.Ireland, who lost their opener to Bangladesh by 27 runs, brought in Australia-born all-rounder Alex Cusack for Andrew White and batsman Gary Wilson came in for seamer Andre Botha, who injured his groin during the warm-up.Ireland's Ed Joyce was playing against England for the first time since reverting to the land of his birth after his international career with England ended following the 2007 World Cup. This was Ireland's first all-professional team, with seven players -- captain William Porterfield, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Joyce, Niall O'Brien, George Dockrell and Wilson -- all signed by English counties, while the other four were on Irish contracts.Teams: England: Andrew Strauss (captain), Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior (wk), Michael Yardy, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James AndersonIreland: William Porterfield (captain), Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien (wk), Alex Cusack, Kevin O'Brien, Gary Wilson, John Mooney, Trent Johnston, George Dockrell, Boyd Rankin.

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Butt seeks inquiry into India-England match prediction

Updated at: 0307 PST,  Wednesday, March 02, 2011

LAHORE: PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt has asked for the strict inquiry into the predication of India-England match that the counter was going to ‘tie’. He urged the matter would be taken up in an ICC meeting to be held in Mumbai, Geo News reported.In a gathering here, the PCB chief spoke positive about the fate of Pakistan cricket team in mega event. He said Pakistan, though going great, but still need improvement in fielding and bowling sections.To a question, Butt denied considering the matter of Shoaib Malik, saying that his issue would be taken up in a meeting of PCB’s Integrity Committee on March 4 The announcement of award of central contract to 19 players would be soon made, he said, being angry over prediction of India-England match result by a former Australian bowler Shane Warne He said the matter should be strictly dealt with and we are going to discuss this issue in ICC’s meeting in Mumbai.

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