West Indies advance to Super Eight

West Indies go into their third and final preliminary Group D world cup match against a buoyant Ireland, at Sabina Park, Jamaica, already certain of a place Super Eight but wanting preserving their one hundred per cent record.

They will be wary though of their opponents who shocked the cricket world when they ousted Pakistan in a three-wicket win last week Saturday.{{more}}

West Indies marched into the Super Eight with a less than clinical defeat of Zimbabwe last Tuesday at the same venue.

A 75 run fifth wicket partnership between captain Brian Lara and Dwayne Bravo pushed the West Indies over the line, when he hoisted Chris Mpofu over the mid wicket boundary for six.

The pair came together at 129, after Marlon Samuels went caught by Justice Chibhabna off Tawanda Mupariwa for 28.

The two played cautiously ensuring that there were no more wobbles in the middle.

Lara ended on 44 and Bravo 37 as the West Indies reached 204, in the penultimate ball of the 48th over.

Chris Gayle had earlier set the pace with a quick fire 40 off 48 balls inclusive of three fours and three sixes. The latter came consecutively off medium pacer Mupariwa.

He and Shivnarine Chanderpaul put on 73 for the first wicket before the left handed Guyanese went caught by Vussemusi Sibanta for 21 off the bowling of Elton Chigumbura. Gayle followed in the next over with the score still on 73. Ramnaresh Sarwan went caught and bowled by Ireland for 12, with the score at 106.

Lara and Samuels added 13 runs for the fourth wicket.

The West Indies chose after Lara had won the toss and put in the opposition.

A decision that was met with immediate success as fast bowler Jerome Taylor had Friday Kasteni bowled for a duck with his first ball and the second over of the innings It soon became 2 for 2, when Darren Powell bowled Sibanta for 1.Taylor bagged his second wicket when he rattled the stumps Chibhabna for 12, to reduce Zimbabwe to 31 for 3. It became 59 for 4, when Stuart Matsikenyeri was caught by Powell off Dwayne Smith for 16.Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams batted positively adding 83. Taylor was run out for 50, in the 41st over. Taylor found a useful partner in Elton Chigumbura that saw their team to 202 without further loss.

Williams was not out 70 and Chigumbura not out 30.

The West Indies bowlers not as efficient as when they opposed Pakistan in their opening match sent down 13 wides.

Taylor the chief transgressor with seven wides took 2 for 42 in his ten overs and his new ball partner Powell who mixed aggression with accuracy had 1 for 15 in six overs.

The West Indies will be looking to cream the Irish and carry with them the two points into the Super Eight Round.