Record-breaking O’Brien sees Ireland stun England
Kevin O’Brien struck the fastest-ever World Cup hundred as Ireland
pulled off a sensational three-wicket win over England on Wednesday.
Ireland, chasing 328 for victory, won with five balls to spare as
they finished on 329 for seven.
It seemed as if England, who made 327 for eight, were cruising to
victory when they reduced non-Test playing Ireland to 111 for five.
But in a brilliant burst of power-hitting O’Brien got to three
figures in just 50 balls at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
That meant he’d obliterated former Australia opener Matthew Hayden’s
previous fastest World Cup century record off 66 balls 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.
Ireland’s target was down to three off the last over but they won
with five balls to spare when John Mooney struck a four off James
Anderson.
It was the highest successful run chase in World Cup history.
“It’s pretty amazing,” said Ireland batsman Alex Cusack, who made 47
in a decisive sixth-wicket partnership of 162 with O’Brien.
“Words can’t describe how I feel at the moment, just on top of the
world.
“We decided if the ball was there that we’d have a go at it. I was
just trying to knock it around for Kev. He’s got the power. That was my
job and he was playing the big shots.”AFP
ENGLAND
A Strauss b Dockrell 34
K Pietersen c N O’Brien b Stirling 59
J. Trott b Mooney 92
I Bell c Stirling b Mooney 81
P Collingwood c K O’Brien b Mooney 16
M Prior b Johnston 6
T Bresnan c Johnston b Mooney 4
M Yardy b Johnston 3
G Swann not out 9
Extras (b1, lb2, w20) 23
TOTAL (8 wkts, 50 overs) 327
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-91 (Strauss), 2-111 (Pietersen), 3-278 (Bell), 4-288 (Trott),
5-299 (Prior), 6-312 (Collingwood), 7-317 (Yardy), 8-327 (Bresnan)
BOWLING: Rankin 7-0-51-0 (4w); Johnston 10-0-58-2; Cusack 4-0-39-0 (1w);
Dockrell 10-0-68-1 (5w); Mooney 9-0-63-4 (1w); Stirling 10-0-45-1
IRELAND
W Porterfield b Anderson 0
P Stirling c Pietersen b Bresnan 32
E Joyce st Prior b Swann 32
N O’Brien b Swann 29
G Wilson lbw b Swann 3
K O’Brien run out (Broad/Prior) 113
A Cusack run out (Collingwood/Broad) 47
J Mooney not out 33
T Johnston not out 7
Extras (b5, lb16, w12) 33
TOTAL 7 wkts, 50 overs) 329
Did not bat: G Dockrell, B Rankin
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Porterfield), 2-62 (Stirling), 3-103 (N O’Brien), 4-106 (Joyce), 5-111 (Wilson), 6-273 (Cusack), 7-317 (K O’Brien)
BOWLING: Anderson 8.1-1-49-1 (1w); Broad 9-0-73-0 (2w); Bresnan 10-0-64-1 (2w); Yardy 7-0-49-0 (2w); Swann 10-0-47-3; Collingwood 5-0-26-0 |
