Pakistan and West Indies go through
ADELAIDE: Pakistan grabbed a World Cup quarter-final berth yesterday following their seven-wicket victory against Ireland that also cleared West Indies’ last eight passage from Pool B.
Sarfraz Ahmed (101 not out) hit Pakistan’s first century at this year’s World Cup and added 120 runs with Ahmed Shehzad (63) to give the team their best start in the tournament.
The 1992 champions reached their 238-run victory target with nearly four overs to spare, but Ahmed’s struggle to get his first ODI century and Umar Akmal’s blocking at the other end to help his partner achieve the milestone made it a dull end to the match.
Pakistan got off to a slow start with the Irish bowlers maintaining a tight leash.
It was when George Dockrell was brought into the attack that Ahmed and Shehzad broke loose, hitting two boundaries each in the 10th over.
Shehzad took 52 balls to bring up his fifty and Pakistan reached the 100-mark in the 19th over. Ahmed needed 58 balls to reach his fifty and Pakistan seemed to have finally found an answer to their opening woes.
Shehzad threw away his wicket in the 23rd over and Misbah-ul-Haq fell after contributing 39, but Pakistan’s victory was never really in doubt.
They will face tournament co-hosts Australia in Adelaide on Friday.
Earlier, Ireland captain William Porterfield led by example, hitting his first World Cup century to lift Ireland to 237, contributing nearly half of the team’s total.
Porterfield’s decision to bat was a positive one, but Ireland lost wickets each time a partnership got going.
Ed Joyce could not make the most of some luck early in his innings and fluffed a pull shot to depart after making 11.
On 94, left-hander Porterfield nearly ran himself out at the nonstriker’s end after abandoning his bid for a nonexistent single.
His century came in streaky fashion with Porterfield driving the ball back to bowler Rahat Ali, who could not take the catch on his followthrough.
The Ireland skipper eventually fell in the 39th over, Shahid Afridi rushing from the edge of the circle to take a low, diving catch.
Johnson Charles and Jonathan Carter scored half-centuries as West Indies moved into the quarter-finals with a sixwicket victory over United Arab Emirates at McLean Park in Napier.
With heavy rain expected, West Indies had to reach their victory target quickly and made 176 for four in 30.3 overs.
They now face New Zealand in Wellington in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
West Indies captain Jason Holder and his new ball partner Jerome Taylor earlier laid the platform for the victory as they ripped through UAE’s batting line-up.
Holder took four wickets and Taylor two of his three as they reduced UAE to 46-6 before Amjad Javed and Nasir Aziz combined for a 107run partnership that gave their score some credibility. – Reuters