Riding on Kevin O’Brien sensational 113 from 63 balls, Ireland scripted an improbable three-wicket win over England and one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
Ireland looked down and out as they were reeling at 111 for five in reply to England’s 327 for eight. But in front of a sparsely filled Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kevin clubbed six sixes and 13 fours to power his side to victory with 329 for seven and smashing Matthew Hayden’s record for the quickest World Cup century on the way.
Kevin was run out in the penultimate over but his sixth-wicket stand of 162 with Alex Cusack effectively got Ireland to the threshold of their maiden win over England. The win was more memorable for Ireland than their victories against Pakistan and Bangladesh at the last World Cup.
Hayden set the previous record for the quickest World Cup century off 66 balls for Australia against South Africa in 2007, but O’Brien (Century in 50 balls) hit huge sixes to all corners of Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Stadium as England’s bowling disintegrated once Graeme Swann’s 10 overs were completed.
England pacers were pathetic and their fielding was equally shoddy as they dropped four catches, including captain Andrew Strauss’s spill of a skied shot when O’Brien was on 91.
Matt Prior spilled a high catch from Ed Joyce, James Anderson let a shot by Niall O’Brien sail through his hands on the boundary for six and Michael Yardy dropped Cusack on 32 off his own bowling.
Earlier, fifties from Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell had driven England to an imposing 327-8.