Hamilton, March 10 (IANS) Guided by Shikhar Dhawan's dominating century, India's smooth eight-wicket victory over Ireland here on Tuesday ensured that the defending World Champions will finish at the top of Pool B.
India, who had already qualified for the quarter-finals earlier, will now play the fourth-placed Pool A team in the last eight, which is likely to be Bangladesh.
With the victory, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni also achieved unique distinction of winning nine Cup matches on the trot, equalling the great Clive Lloyd of the West Indies. Only Australia's Ricky Ponting, with 24 wins, is ahead of them.
Despite a brilliant start, Ireland were befuddled by spinners as some clever tactics from Dhoni helped India bowl out the Associate Member team for 259 at the Seddon Park.
In reply, India had no problem chasing down the target as Dhawan scored his second hundred of the tournament, in only 84 balls, to guide the Asian team to its ninth consecutive Cup win with 13.1 overs to spare.
Openers Rohit Sharma (64) and Dhawan exploited the inexperienced Irish bowlers to strike India's highest World Cup opening stand of 174 runs to more or less settle the matter for their side.
The partnership completely took away the game from the Irish. While Rohit hit three boundaries and sixes each in his knock, Dhawan exemplified his form by stroking 11 boundaries and five sixes in his 85-ball 100.
Vice-captain Virat Kohli (44 not out) and middle-order bat Ajinkya Rahane (33 not out) hardly broke a sweat to combine for an unbeaten 70-run third-wicket stand, helping India to their third successive victory over Ireland in as many meetings.
Earlier, it was a mixed sort of innings from Ireland who got off to a blazing start via openers William Porterfield (67) and Paul Stirling (42). However, they stuttered against spinners and from what seemed as a likely 300-plus total at one point, Ireland collapsed to being all out in the 49th over.
This is the first time ever that India have bowled out their opposition in five consecutive matches.
Electing to bat, captain Porterfield and Stirling looked in good touch as they hammered Indian pacers all over the small ground. The confident start from Ireland made Dhoni bring in third pacer Mohit Sharma (1/38) in only the fifth over.
Despite the change, Ireland still scored quite easily off the pacers, who looked impeccable in the previous four matches of the tournament. However, the Irish duo seemed to handle pace very well.
Dhoni, understanding this, brought in spinners Ravindra Jadeja (1/45) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/38) in the ninth over onwards. The change took some time but finally yielded success in the 15th over, bringing an end to the opening-wicket partnership of 89.
Realising that the minnows were struggling against slower bowlers, Dhoni brought in part-time spinner Suresh Raina (1/40) and it immediately yielded success. Just three runs after the fall of the first wicket, Ed Joyce, who scored a sensational century against Zimbabwe in their last match, was bowled by Raina.
Seeing the ball turn and the Irish struggle against spin, the Indian skipper bowled Ashwin and Raina in tandem and the duo slowed down the run rate, which was run-a-ball till the 15th over.
The quality of the Ireland batting order showed when Niall O'Brien (75) struck two important partnerships. First, Porterfield and Niall struck a 53-run stand before Mohit broke the partnership. Next up, Niall and Andy Balbirnie (24) scored 61 for the fourth wicket to take Ireland past the 200-run mark.
Batting at 206/3 in the 39th over, Ireland looked set for a 300-plus score. But Ashwin once again came to the rescue as he broke the stand in his 10th over which proved to be the catalyst in Ireland's collapse. From 206/3, India clinched six quick wickets to make Ireland totter at 238/9 before the last pair added 21.
Ashwin and Raina's three wickets together in 20 overs for 78 runs and Dhoni's acumen proved to be the difference. Shami also pitched in with 3/41 from his nine overs.
The main reason for Sarfaraz Khan's drop from the Test team is something else, big disclosure in the reports
BCCI Official on Sarfaraz Khan Dropped out from Test Team for West Indies Tour. Ever since the announcement of the Indian Test team for the West Indies tour, questions are being raised on the
Raksha Bandhan 2023 Date: When is Raksha Bandhan on 30 or 31 August? Why is there confusion, know 10 reasons
Raksha Bandhan 2023 Date: Due to the excess month this year, many fasts and festivals including Raksha Bandhan are starting a little late. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival of Raksha
IPL 2025: Mitchell-Alzari became crorepatis in the last auction, this time no buyer was found; the prices of some players decreased
The mega auction of players for IPL 2025 is over. As expected, this time all the previous records were broken in the auction and Rishabh Pant created history. Pant became the most expensive player
Pre-order of India's 160 crore Corona vaccine dose; Will cover 60% of the population
In the war against Coronavirus, China has given emergency approval to 4, Russia 2 and UK 1 vaccine. Even though the vaccine has not received approval in India, it is at the forefront of pre-orders.
A very important meeting for Pakistan, FATF will decide on a gray list
The virtual meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) starting on Wednesday is very important for Pakistan. It will be decided that Pakistan will remain in its gray list or come out of it. In
Centre assures help over farmers crop loss
New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) The central government on Wednesday assured the states of extending all help if required to support farmers who have suffered losses due to the recent rains.Responding to
JEE Mains Result 2022: Sneha Pareek got 100 percentile in JEE Main June session, read her success mantra
National Testing Agency/NTA has declared the result of JEE Mains June session exam. The testing agency released the result at midnight. Let us inform you that more than 9 lakh students have registered
Corona's awe: Haridwar Mahakumbh, divided between each other, BJP and VHP remain silent
In Haridwar, Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Modi appealed to the common people to keep the news of the Corona infection during the Kumbh, now that the Kumbh should be kept symbolic. This appeal of PM has
Queen 2: Big update on Kangana Ranaut's 'Queen 2', script of the film's sequel ready
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut remains in the news for her films. Kangana will soon be seen in the film 'Emergency'. Kangana has given many films to Bollywood, but the actress got recognition from
'The Gandhi family acquired property worth 90 crores for 50 lakhs, this is their development model'; BJP's big attack on Congress.
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad addressed a press conference on Congress' announcement of protests outside ED offices across the country in the National Herald case.
