West Indies defeats Ireland, leads group

West Indies defeats Ireland, leads group|West Indies defeats Ireland, leads group
Associated Press / Rui Vieira, File|Associated Press / Themba Hadebe

Aiming to attain the top of their group in the 10th match of the World Cup Qualifying Round in Harare, Zimbabwe, the West Indies on Saturday staged a come-back to beat Ireland by 52 runs.

They are expected to play the Netherlands on Tuesday, hoping victory will put them at the top going into the Super Six.

But the Caribbean team on Saturday had to largely thank a splendid 101 by Rovman Powell and superb bowling by fast bowlers Kemar Roach (4-27) and Kesrick Williams (4-43) to clinch victory in the end.

West Indies were wobbling at 5-83, when captain Jason Holder (54) and Powell came to the rescue with an 86-run seventh wicket partnership.

Powell’s century was the first for a West Indian batting at no. 7 or lower.

Scores: West Indies 257- 8 (Powell 101, Holder 54, Tim Murtagh 4-41) beat Ireland 205 (Ed Joyce 63, Kevin O’Brien 38, Roach 4-27, Williams 4-43) by 52 runs.

West Indies’ Kemar Roach prepares to bowl during a practice session at the Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Associated Press / Themba Hadebe