HOBART: Ireland upset West Indies as they sealed a stunning nine-wicket win to qualify for the Super 12 round and eliminate two-time champions from T20 World Cup 2022, here on Friday.
West Indies faced their second upset of the tournament as they were earlier defeated by Scotland on Monday.
Set to chase 147, Paul Stirling led the charge with a blistering unbeaten knock of 66 off 48 laced with six four and two sixes to take Ireland home with 15 balls to spare.
Skipper Andy Balbirnie and Stirling provided a flourishing start to the chase as they raised a valiant opening partnership of 73 runs in just 7.2 overs before the Irish captain fell prey to Akeal Hosein after scoring 37 off 23, including three fours and three sixes.
Lorcan Tucker then joined Stirling on the crease and contributed with a solid 45 off 35 balls as the two steered Ireland to the finishing line comprehensively.
Earlier, Brandon King starred with an unbeaten 62 amid a middle-order crash to help West Indies set a fighting total.
Opting to bat first West Indies raised 146/5 in the allotted 20 overs following an unimpressive powerplay and sluggish batting in the middle overs.
Irish legspinner Gareth Delany remained sensational with the ball as he grabbed three wickets in the middle to reduce West Indies to 116/5 in 16.3 overs before King and No 6 batter Odean Smith remained firm on the crease till the last ball.
West Indies lost both the opener, Kyle Mayers (1 off 5) and Johnson Charles (24 off 18), in the first six overs as the side raised mere 41 runs.
King played a cautious knock in the middle as he smashed six fours and a six during his 48-ball knock while middle-order batter Ervin Lewis and skipper Nicholas Pooran chipped in with 13 off 18 and 13 off 11, respectively.
Smith, however, smashed two big hits and a four during his brief knock of 12-ball 19, taking West Indies to a respectable total.
For Ireland, apart from Delany, Simi Singh and Barry McCarthy took a scalp each.
