Pollard powers WI

HURRICANE IN FULL FORCE: West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard hoicks one during his 55-ball 94 against Ireland at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali yesterday.Photo: AFP

A Kieron Pollard-inspired West Indies stifled a brave fightback by Ireland on Friday to win by 44 runs and put one foot in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Pollard hammered 94 off just 55 balls and shared an 88-run stand with Devon Smith, who hit a maiden ODI ton, as West Indies posted 275 before bowling out the Irish for 231 in 49 overs at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
Pollard also took a blinder of a catch to send back dangerman Kevin O'Brien for five off seamer Darren Sammy, who had impressive figures of 3-31 off his 10 overs.
The win took West Indies to six points from four Group B outings and virtually assured them of a place in the last eight.
Ireland, with one win from four matches, must now beat South Africa and the Netherlands in their remaining league matches to stand any chance of progressing to the knockout round.
"We bowled where we wanted to and that got us the victory," said Sammy, adding that his side had done well to stick to the basics.
Man-of-the-match Pollard said: "This innings is for the people who have supported me. Good game for us, important to keep the momentum going."
The Irish began their chase cautiously after losing opener Paul Stirling in the second over to towering left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn (4-53).
Sammy was rewarded for creating pressure by bowling three maiden overs in a row when Ireland captain William Porterfield (11) chipped tamely to substitute fielder Ravi Rampaul.
Benn bowled Niall O'Brien for 25 before Ed Joyce steadied the innings with a 91-run stand for the fourth wicket with Gary Wilson (61).
Joyce, who played for England in the 2007 World Cup, completed his fourth one-day half-century and kept Ireland in the hunt until he was bowled by Andre Russell for a 106-ball 84, containing nine fours.
Wilson took the fight to the West Indies but once he was dismissed in the 42nd over by Sammy, it was all over for the Irish.
Smith earlier laid the foundation for a big West Indies total with a mature innings of 107 off 133 balls after the Caribbean side were sent in to bat on an easy-paced track.
Smith added 89 runs with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, opening the innings after Chris Gayle was ruled out on the morning of the match with an abdominal strain.