Ireland aiming high after West Indies upset at Cricket World Cup

Ireland intend to take their giant-killing knack to the next stage at the World Cup, by qualifying for the knockout rounds in New Zealand and Australia.

William Porterfield’s team extended their winning habit against Test-playing nations when they began their campaign with a four-wicket Pool B victory over West Indies in Nelson on Monday. They were continuing the trend they have set at previous World Cups, memorably against England at Bangalore in 2011 and Pakistan in the Caribbean four years earlier.

This time, on a small playing area and very good pitch, they restricted the Windies to 304 for seven — despite Lendl Simmons’ 102 and his sixth-wicket stand of 154 with Darren Sammy (89) — with left-arm spinner George Dockrell taking three for 50.