What a day for the Irish as they pulled off one of the greatest victories in world cup history. It also strengthens there hope of becoming the next test nation and shows they are the best of the associate sides. The day belong to kevin O'Brien who scored the fastest century in world cup history. But the day didnt start too well for Ireland as they lost the toss and England decided to bat on the same wicket where Strauss an co were heroes in there fightback. So quickly England went from hero to zero.
The Strauss Pietersen partnership was working wonders again as England got off to an really fast start. After 10 overs they were 72-0 as Strauss left off from where he played so well against India and Pietersen carried on playing really well as he was out unluckily to Patel. Just before they got to an 100 partnership Strauss tried to be too cute and missed an straight ball from the young Dockrell. He was out for 34. Pietersen soon got to his 50 but he also went at the score of nelson 111-1 when Stirling bowled and Pietersen edged the ball to Niall O'Brien. So at the crease came Trott and his Warwickshire team mate Bell.
Trott was the only one of the top 4 to not make a contribution for England against India and he was determined to put that right. After the 2 batsman got through the opening spell the scoring became easier as the Irish bowlers toiled out there. They were making steady progress without taking too much risk as the 50 partnership came up in 66 balls and soon afterwards Trott reached his 50 off 55 balls with 5 fours to his name. England looked like making an score well over 300 as at the 30 over make they were 175-2 and as Richie Benaud said if you have wickets in hand then you normally double the score at 30 overs.
England reached there 200 at the mid point of the 34th as England were cruising towards a big score. Bell reached to an comfortable 50 as he reached it off 61 balls. Soon after that Bell and Trott made there 100 partnership off 108 balls going at just under 6 and over.
As they looked comfortable England took the batting powerplay at the start of the 39th over. England were starting to pile on the runs as they reached 250 off 239 balls and then reached there 150 partnership off 140 balls. But Mooney finally did break the partnership. It was in the last over of the powerplay Bell going for an big shot but only skied it to Stirling to take an easy catch. He made another impressive knock of 81 including 6 fours and 1 six off 86 balls. This brought Collingwood out.
Trott on the other side looked untroubled and played his innings with little risk. He was easing towards an century until he took on his first proper risk trying to loft Mooney for 6 he missed the ball and got bowled. England were 288-4. After that England job was to get quick runs Collingwood got 16 runs and the rest got single figure scores but they all helped the score to be pushed up to 327-8. England again looked impressive in the batting department. Mooney was the pick of the bowlers getting half the wickets in his 9 overs conceding 63 but was bowling in power play overs. Johnston got a couple of wickets Dockrell getting one and Stirling putting in another impressive economical figures as he got 1 wicket for 45 off his 10.
The reply didnt start off to well for Ireland as they lost there captain, Porterfield, straight away in the first over. But Ed Joyce (former England test player) and Stirling put on a solid partnership as they reached there 50 off 47 balls. The 50 partnership came up in 53 balls as Ireland were putting out there stall that they were going to have a go at catching the England score. They lost there second wicket in the first powerplay as Stirling went for a quick fire 32 which included 5 fours and a 6. It brought in Niall O'Brien the wicket keeper.
What he and Ed Joyce did was steady the innings and try and build an foundation. They safely for Ireland to 100 before Swann came on and change the completion of the match. He first balled Niall O'Brien through the gate and then Ed Joyce was stumped off a Swann bowl and Wilson was LBWed. So from 103-2 to 111-5. It looked like England were easing towards an big victory but in stepped Cusack and Kevin O'Brien as they lead back one of the greatest comebacks in world cup history.
Early on they were trying to get through the spell to steady the ship. But after getting through that mini period Kevin O'Brien started to play out of his skin. Within no time these 2 had a 50 partnership where Kevin got 32 of the runs and Cusack only 12. It was obvious that Cusack was playing an anchoring role while Kevin O'Brien was hitting all out. Kevin O'Brien reached his 50 off 30 balls and then after that he started to play one of the greatest knock in world cup history.
Ireland were going for Broke as they took the batting powerplay at over 31 as they were trying to chase down this target. They were 167-5. In there 5 overs they made a number of small targets they reached 200 they reached 100 partnership off 61 balls and by the end of the batting powerplay they had to the target down to under 100 (98 needed off 14 overs. They Kevin continued to carry the attack to England as he was hitting boundaries left right and center. 4s and 6s were happening every few balls when he was on strike and in the 41st over history was made when Kevin O'Brien made the quickest century in world cup history. He did it off 50 balls and hit 13 fours and 6 sixes. Ireland had moved onto 272-5. From 111-5.
At the other end overs Cusack was given him good support as he moved onto 47 when a huge misunderstanding happened between Cusack and Kevin and Broad ran him out. It was a blow for Ireland and the fear was that Kevin would run out of partners. The new man was the star bowler Mooney. 273-6 off 41.3 overs. Over the next couple of overs runs were kept downand after 43 overs they were 279-6.
But Mooney quickly got into his stride and started to hit the ball big. He was getting the score ticking over and helped Ireland over 300. Kevin wasnt getting the runs as easily at the other end but for Mooney was doing the damage. They got Ireland over 300 and they were easing towards victory when in the start of the 49th over Kevin O'Brien was run out. They went for a second run which was never on Prior got him out. But it was an amazing innings for Kevin O'Brien where he ended up on 113 of 63 balls including 13 fours and 6 sixes. For Ireland the eqation was in there favor 11 off 11 needed as Trent Johnston came in.
Once Johnston got a boundary off that over it the writing was on the wall for England. Ireland needed only 3 runs off the final over to get victory. They did it off the first ball of the last over as Mooney scored a 4. That completed one of the greatest come backs and shocks in world cup history. This game might not have topped England vs India but it came very close and was another great match in this unpredictable world cup where it is anyones game.
For Ireland they play here again against the other half of the team which tied the match at Bangalore as they take on India on Sunday. England move further south as they travel to Chennai as they play the impressive South Africa. England are now in danger of not making the quarter final of the competition. This world cup his come alive. As this day belong to Kevin O'Brien as played a match winning innings. Ireland move on with great confidence with leaving with a lot to ponder about.
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