India made it look easy with the bat: Porterfield

Hamilton, March 10 (IANS) Ireland skipper William Porterfield on Tuesday said India made it look easy with the bat as they beat his side with eight wickets and 79 balls to spare in a Pool B encounter at the Seddon Park here.

Ireland at one point of time looked liked getting a score of in excess of 300. But they were pulled back by pace spearhead Mohammed Shami (3-41) and spinners Ravindra Jadeja (1-45) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/38). Ireland were eventually bowled out for 259. India chased the total down quite easily, losing only two wickets en route.

“You have to give a lot of credit to them, kept fighting and coming back, and made it look very easy with the bat. (Ashwin) bowled very well, mixed his pace very well, there was a bit of grip as well. We just lost a couple of wickets and that set us back,” Porterfield said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

The skipper added there are a lot of positives that they have taken from the game, and is hopeful of beating Pakistan in a “winner takes it all” game in Adelaide on March 15.

"There's a lot of good things to take especially the first innings. It's all about being mentally fresh for that game in Adelaide, it's a winner takes all for us," he concluded.