Ireland shock Windies at World Cup

NELSON, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 16: Paul Stirling of Ireland bats during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between the West Indies and Ireland at Saxton Field on February 16, 2015 in Nelson, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

NELSON, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 16: Paul Stirling of Ireland bats during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between the West Indies and Ireland at Saxton Field on February 16, 2015 in Nelson, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Published Feb 16, 2015

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Nelson - Ireland pulled off the biggest shock of the World Cup so far when they downed two-time champions West Indies by four wickets on Monday.

Paul Stirling and Ed Joyce came agonisingly close to centuries but still helped Ireland cause the first upset of the 2015 cricket World Cup at Saxton Oval in Nelson.

Opener Stirling scored 92 and shared in a 106-run partnership with Joyce (84) while Niall O'Brien added 79 not out to guide Ireland to 307 for six in 45.5 overs after West Indies had scored 304 for seven.

It is the third successive World Cup they have beaten a test-playing team after victories over Pakistan and Bangladesh in 2007 and England in 2011.

West Indies only posted a score in excess of 300 due to a counter-attacking century from Lendl Simmons (102), who combined with Darren Sammy (89) in a 154-run sixth-wicket partnership.

"It's great to get that winning start," said Stirling.

"It was nice to get a few runs. It was a good toss to win. We knew the pitch would get better and better and we were able to chase it down."

Reuters and AFP

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