CRICKET WORLD CUP:THERE WAS to be no repeat of the glorious scenes of last Wednesday here at the Chinnaswamy stadium last night as a nervy India chased down Ireland's low total of 207 with five wickets and four overs to spare in this World Cup Group B clash.
What there was, though, was further evidence of the growing respect Ireland now demand in the world game as they put pressure on the hosts throughout the run chase despite not having much in the bag to defend.
In the end, a few lusty blows from Yusuf Pathan eased fraying nerves among the sell-out 40,000 crowd, with Yuvraj Singh continuing his return to form with his first ODI five-wicket haul and an unbeaten half-century, the first time that particular double has been achieved in a World Cup.
The defeat came at a cost to Ireland, with Trent Johnston undergoing a scan to his right knee after falling hard while bowling.
Johnston had claimed big-hitter Virender Sehwag with his first ball, and followed that up with the wicket of Gautam Gambhir, with Alex Cusack taking a fine catch down the leg side.
Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli put on 63 for the third wicket before 18-year-old George Dockrell struck gold, claiming the wicket of the Little Master for 38 with a plum leg-before, while he combined with Kevin O’Brien to run out Kohli for 34 to leave India on 100 for four.
Yuvraj and skipper MS Dhoni then extinguished Ireland’s faint hopes with a 67-run stand, before Dockrell picked up his second scalp with another nailed-on leg before when Dhoni had made 34.
It was to be Ireland’s last success, with Yuvraj (50 not out) and Yusuf Pathan (30 not out off 24) guiding them home.
Yet again the Ireland innings got off to a hideous start with a fired-up Zaheer Khan at his menacing best. Getting extravagant movement with the new ball the left-armer nearly accounted for Porterfield with the third ball of the game, but Yusuf could not hold a sharp chance at second slip.
It didn’t take long though as one nipped back through Paul Stirling’s loose guard to take his middle stump for a duck.
Ed Joyce flashed at a Khan outswinger to pick up a boundary in his next over, but failed to spot the one coming back into him next ball with MS Dhoni taking a fine catch off the inside edge.
Nine for two then, but what followed turned out to be Ireland’s purple patch, led in the main by purple-haired Porterfield. Along with fellow left-hander Niall O’Brien they staged a fine recovery that subdued the crowd and looked set to provide the foundation of a score of 250-plus.
The duo took a particular liking to leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who was hauled off after his first four overs went for 34 runs.
The duo had put together a century partnership at that stage and had moved the score on to 122 for two in the 27th over before O’Brien was run out for 46 when slow in reacting to Porterfield’s call for a single.
Andrew White gave Yuvraj his first scalp with a catch behind, bringing Irish hero Kevin O’Brien to the wicket to a huge reception.
He gave a glimpse of his power with a crashing back-foot shot for four off Chawla, but would perish in tame fashion when popping one up to Yuvraj after making just 10 to leave Ireland on 147 for five.
The key now was for Porterfield to push on to three figures, but he became Yuvraj’s next victim when he played a loose shot straight to Harbhajan Singh in the covers to perish for 75.
Yuvraj trapped John Mooney in front for five and departed after a review, and the all-rounder brought up his first ODI five-wicket haul when Alex Cusack, after making 24, was also given out lbw on review after umpire Rod Tucker had failed to raise the finger.
Johnston’s 17 off 20 balls got Ireland over the 200-mark, a target that proved a good 60 runs short at the end of the night.
Scoreboard:
INDIA v IRELAND
in Bangalore; India won the toss
Ireland Innings
W Porterfield c Harbhajan b Yuvraj 75
P Stirling b Khan 0
E Joyce c Dhoni b Khan 4
N O’Brien run out 46
A White c Dhoni b Yuvraj 5
K O’Brien c b Yuvraj 9
A Cusack lbw b Yuvraj 24
J Mooney lbw b Yuvraj 5
T Johnston lbw b Patel 17
G Dockrell c Dhoni b Khan 3
B Rankin not out 1
Extras (lb4 w8 nb6) 18
–––––––––
Total (47.5 overs) 207
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-9, 3-122, 4-129, 5-147, 6-160, 7-178, 8-184, 9-201.
Bowling: Khan 9-1-30-3, Patel 4.5-0-25-1, Pathan 7-1-32-0, Harbhajan 9-1-29-0, Chawla 8-0-56-0, Yuvraj 10-0-31-5.
India Innings
V Sehwag c b Johnston 5
S Tendulkar lbw b Dockrell 38
G Gambhir c Cusack b Johnston 10
V Kohli run out 34
Yuvraj Singh not out 50
MS Dhoni lbw b Dockrell 34
Y Pathan not out 30
Extras (lb4 w5) 9
–––––––
Total (5 wkts, 46 overs) 210
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-24, 3-87, 4-100, 5-167.
Did not bat: Har’jan, Chawla, Khan, Patel.
Bowling: Rankin 10-1-34-0, Johnston 5-1-16-2, Dockrell 10-0-49-2, Mooney 2-0-18-0, Stirling 10-0-45-0, White 5-0-23-0, K O’Brien 1-0-3-0, Cusack 3-0-18-0.
India beat Ireland by 5 wkts
