Thursday, March 28, 2024

India win 5th straight World Cup match

Date:

Share post:

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — India’s remarkable turnaround at the Cricket World Cup continued on Tuesday with a fifth consecutive win ensuring the defending champions will top their pool heading into the quarterfinals.

India beat Ireland by eight wickets to remain unbeaten, a dramatic change after they entered the World Cup without a win in a competitive match in the previous two months on Australian soil, spanning four test matches and a limited-overs tri-series against Australia and England.

“We have been here for over four months, we had to sacrifice somewhere,” India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. “I knew it (form) would be back when the World Cup started.

“I’m glad all of us have stepped up. It feels good — we just have to take the momentum forward.”

Shikhar Dhawan scored 100 and Rohit Sharma hit 64 in a 174-run opening partnership as India reached 260-2, chasing down Ireland’s 259 with 13.1 overs remaining.

Ireland’s push for a place in the quarterfinals will continue on the weekend against Pakistan.

India will stay atop Pool B regardless of the outcome of their last group match against Zimbabwe.

Ireland must now beat Pakistan in the last match of the pool round at Adelaide on Sunday, or at least take a point from that game, to have any chance of progressing.

“It’s all about being mentally fresh for that game in Adelaide,” Ireland captain William Porterfield said. “It’s a winner-takes-all for us.”

India achieved their win with the kind of efficiency which has marked their progress through the tournament. After Porterfield made 67 and Niall O’Brien scored a run-a-ball 75 to give Ireland hope of a competitive total, India took seven wickets for 53 runs. Fast bowler Mohammed Shami had the best return of 3-41, and spinner Ravi Ashwin took 2-38.

Ireland’s total was also the highest score by any team against India in Pool B. India have in common with Pool A leader New Zealand the fact they have bowled out their opponents in all five of their matches: Pakistan for 224, South Africa for 177, United Arab Emirates for 102, and the West Indies for 182.

“It’s a good stat. It means the bowlers are really doing the job for us,” Dhoni said. “It’s a remarkable difference, they’ve really stepped up. Not just the three fast bowlers, the spinners as well … looks like a happy unit.”

South Africa, Pakistan, Ireland and West Indies are all vying for the remaining quarterfinal spots from Pool B.

New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have already ensured they’ll reach the knockout round from Pool A, although the finishing order is still to be determined.

Coach Marvan Atapattu’s focus ahead of Sri Lanka’s match against Scotland in Hobart on Wednesday will be on how to combat the high attrition rate for his squad.

Dinesh Chandimal was ruled out after injuring his leg and having to retire hurt as Sri Lanka unsuccessfully tried to chase down Australia’s total of 376-9 on Sunday.

Dhammika Prasad, all-rounder Jeevan Mendis, and batsman Dimuth Karunaratne have already been replaced in the squad due to injuries, and spinner Rangana Herath missed the match against Australia due to a hand injury.

“It’s a big blow to lose anybody from our original squad,” Atapattu said. “We’ve come to the stage where, due to unavoidable circumstances, injuries, we have five replacements.”

Second-tier Scotland have never won a World Cup match, missing their best chance to end that drought recently against tournament newcomer Afghanistan.

“Obviously, if you have a chance to win the game in a convincing way, you take that option,” Atapattu said. “But our priority here is to win a game of cricket so we can get some confidence out of the game tomorrow.”

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related articles

Four killed during stabbing spree in Illinois

Illinois, USA - Four people have been killed and at least five injured after a man armed with...

Guilty of having sex with minor

The St Michael man who was earlier this month on trial in the No. 4A Supreme Court, accused...

Disgraced ‘Crypto King’ to be sentenced

Sam Bankman-Fried, the former billionaire crypto boss who was convicted of fraud and money laundering last year, will...

Lester Vaughan update coming

One month after the closure of Lester Vaughan School, teachers and concerned parents will have a chance to...