Ireland stun West Indies with four-wicket World Cup victory in Nelson

 West Indies       vs        Ireland

304/7 (50)                     307/6(45.5)

Ireland won by 4 wicketsIreland secured the first shock of the World Cup with a four-wicket victory over two-time champions West Indies in Nelson.

Chasing 304-7, the Associate nation cruised to their target with 4.1 overs left on the back of 92 from Paul Stirling, 84 from Ed Joyce and Niall O’Brien’s 79 not out.

The win, the first by a team batting second in five games so far, follows Ireland's famous victory over England at the 2011 World Cup and over Pakistan in 2007.

William Porterfield’s side reduced West Indies to 87-5 after putting them in to bat, Kevin O’Brien making the initial breakthrough by removing Dwayne Smith (18) before Dwayne Bravo was run out for a duck.

The prized scalp of Chris Gayle (36 from 65 balls) fell to George Dockerell (3-50) - the opener caught at deep midwicket – and the spinner went on to trap Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin lbw in quick succession.

But the West Indies rallied in the shape of a sixth-wicket partnership of 154 between Lendl Simmons (102) and Darren Sammy, who struck nine fours and four sixes in an innings of 89 off 67 balls.

Simmons - nephew of Ireland coach Phil Simmons – reached his century in the final over of the innings, finishing with nine fours and five sixes in his vital 84-ball knock.

Ireland’s chase began confidently as Porterfield (23) and Stirling put on 71 for the first wicket in 13.3 overs before the skipper bottom-edged Gayle behind.

Stirling allowed the West Indies attack no respite, though, reaching his half-century off 49 balls with the help of three sixes.

Ed Joyce - dropped by Bravo in the deep in the 27th over – passed his 50 in 10 fewer deliveries before his 106-run stand with Stirling ended as the opener was caught behind off Samuels.

Joyce’s 67-ball knock, which included two sixes and 10 fours, came to an end four runs before he and O’Brien could post the second century-stand of the innings.

His departure sparked a collapse in which Ireland, with victory in sight, lost four wickets for just 18 runs as Andy Balbirnie (nine), Gary Wilson (one) and Kevin O’Brien – run out for a duck – fell quickly.

But Niall O’Brien held his nerve and together with John Mooney (six not out) saw Ireland safely across the line off 44.5 overs to claim another famous victory.

Watch highlights of Ireland’s victory on Sky Sports World Cup at 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm 5pm, 7pm and 8pm.