Irish blast umpire as cup hopes fade

IRELAND captain William Porterfield was left fuming after claiming a controversial umpiring decision cost his side victory over the West Indies in Mohali yesterday.

Batsman Gary Wilson was adjudged leg before wicket by on-field umpire Asoka de Silva when he was cruising at 61 and the decision was referred to TV umpire Bruce Oxenford.

TV replays seemed to show the batsman had offered a shot but De Silva’s decision was apparently based on the view that Wilson had not done so.

The incident led to a verbal exchange with the veteran Sri Lankan umpire but De Silva stuck to his guns even after Wilson had asked for a second review.

Porterfield said the decision cost his side the game at a time when, at 199-5, they were well-placed to chase a target of 276.

“The decision was crucial and cost us the game,” said Porterfield after Ireland were handed a 44-run defeat.

“You can make mistakes on the field. But when you have the technology and advantage of TV replays, that is supposed to eradicate mistakes.

“In my opinion, this time it didn’t.

“The game was at a crucial stage. If that decision was not made, we could have opted for the powerplays, but that wicket forced us to delay it.”

Ed Joyce top-scored for Ireland with 84, while Devon Smith hit a career-best 107 and Kieron Pollard smashed 94 off 55 balls for the West Indies.

The defeat left Ireland with the huge task of beating South Africa and the Netherlands in their last two Group B games if they are to have any chance of making to the last eight.

If Porterfield feels he had a bad day yesterday, he should imagine how England’s Andrew Strauss must be feeling.

Having slipped up against Ireland last week, England did it again yesterday as Bangladesh came back from the dead to win by two wickets in Chittagong.

England hit a modest 225 but looked on course to defend it after taking five wickets for 14 runs between the 30th and 40th over.

But a heroic ninth-wicket stand between Shafiul Islam and Mahmudullah turned the tables on Strauss’s men.

The pair put on 58 from 56 balls for a remarkable win that was sealed with six deliveries remaining.

Earlier, former Ireland star Eoin Morgan had scored 63 in his first World Cup innings for England since being called up as a replacement for Kevin Pietersen.

Strauss’s side must now beat the West Indies in their next match to have any hope of progressing.

Picture: Ireland bowler Kevin O'Brien, left, Niall O'Brien, centre, and captain William Porterfield celebrate the dismissal of West Indies Shivnarine Chanderpaul