Ireland brushed aside by India

Twenty20: India beat a weakened Ireland side by eight wickets in their World Twenty20 Group A clash at Trent Bridge, underlining…

Twenty20:India beat a weakened Ireland side by eight wickets in their World Twenty20 Group A clash at Trent Bridge, underlining the world champions' credentials as favourites. The match mattered little, however, after both sides qualified for the Super Eights with wins over Bangladesh.

The business end for Ireland starts tomorrow at 1pm, when they take on New Zealand. After Trent Johnston and Niall O'Brien sat out tonight's match because of injury, the hope is the extra night's rest will see them available for a meeting with the Black Caps.

India seamer Zaheer Khan did the damage tonight, when he took four for 19 to set up a comfortable victory.

Left-arm swing bowler Zaheer helped restrict Ireland to just 112 for eight after the match was reduced to 18-overs a side following a rain delay.

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Man-of-the-match Zaheer was well supported by spinner Pragyan Ojha, who completed figures of two for 18 from four overs.

Rohit Sharma (52 not out) and Gautam Gambhir (37) put on 77 for the first wicket for defending champions India who reached 113 for two with 15 deliveries remaining under the Trent Bridge floodlights.