Kevin’s record ton helps Ireland stun England

BANGALORE: Kevin O’Brien’s record century helped Ireland to hand England a humiliating three-wicket defeat with five balls remaining in their World Cup Group B match here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.
Chasing a huge total of 328 runs, Ireland set a World Cup record of achieving the highest winning target as they finished on 329 for seven to pull off the sensational victory with five balls to spare.
The previous highest successful run chase was 313 made by Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe in the 1992 World Cup.
The main architect of the Ireland’s astonishing victory was Kevin O’Brien, who made his second One-day International century from only 50 balls – the fastest ever hundred in World Cups. He broke the previous fastest century record off 66 balls made by Australia’s Matthew Hayden against South Africa at St Kitts in 2007.
O'Brien's whirlwind innings of 113 off 63 balls, including six sixes and 13 fours, ended when he was run out going for a second run by Stuart Broad's throw to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
He was ably supported by Alex Cusack who made 47. Both added 162 runs for the sixth wicket partnership.
Earlier, England piled up 327 runs for the loss of seven wickets after captain Andrew Strauss won the toss.
Strauss and Kevin Pietersen opened the innings and provided a good start of 91 runs before Strauss was bowled by George Dockrell for 34.
Pietersen also went after getting his 22nd one-day international half-century, caught behind off Paul Stirling for 59.
Later, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell got together to take England to 278, adding 167 runs for the third wicket.
Then, John Mooney and Trent Johnston struck back and began sending England batsmen to pavilion at regular short intervals. First to go was Bell caught Stirling b Mooney for his 86-ball 81 with eight fours and a six.
The runs later, Trott was bowled by Mooney for 92, eight short of his fourth ODI hundred. His 92-ball innings was laced with nine boundaries.
Paul Collingwood could make only 16 from 11 balls and he was also dismissed by Mooney who later got Tim Bresnan out for three.
Johnston also captured two wickets, dismissing Matt Prior for six and Michael Yardy for four while Graeme Swann remained not out on nine.
Mooney finished on four for 63 and Johnston claimed two wickets.

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