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Journalism of Courage
Ireland8217;s cricketers are not just joining world cricket8217;s biggest club, they8217;re winning matches and lots of new friends.
Ireland8217;s comfortable 74-run defeat of Bangladesh on Sunday in the Super 8s is the amateur side8217;s second victory at the World Cup. Cricket giants Pakistan and now Bangladesh have fallen to Trent Johnston8217;s hugely enthusiastic players.
Because Ireland have beaten two Test-playing nations 8212; Pakistan and Bangladesh 8212; their formal status will change from a temporary one-day International-playing nation to permanent.
With more competition, Irish cricket administrators hope, will come higher standards and an even better performance at the 2011 World Cup. William Porterfield, whose patient 85 laid the foundations for Ireland8217;s total of 243, said the Caribbean experience was being felt back at home.
8220;I think it8217;s gone a bit crazy back home and hopefully cricket in Ireland can kick off from here,8221; he said. Bowlers danced jigs on the Kensington Oval wicket as Bangladesh batsmen fell, cheered on by hundreds of supporters of the cricket part-timers. The team did a lap of honour around the Oval after the final wicket from Johnston meant Bangladesh were bowled out for 169 in the 42nd over.
Ireland won the toss for the first time at the World Cup and batted on a fast and dry Kensington Oval wicket. Porterfield scored a sensible 85 in 136 balls to lay the foundations for an innings of 243-7 after 50 overs.
Johnston said he chose to bat because he did not want to chase a Bangladesh total on a wearing wicket. He paid tribute to the 92-run opening partnership between Porterfield and Jeremy Bray, who scored 31.
Johnston said he was delighted with the support from Irish supporters and Barbadians who were allowed in for free on Sunday. 8220;In Jamaica, Guyana and Barbados I think the locals have warmed to us,8221; he said. 8220;We8217;ll have a quiet ale beer tonight and get on the plane tomorrow for Grenada,8221; Johnston said.
Ireland play their last game there against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
8211;SIMON HAYDON
Scoreboard
IRELAND: W Porterfield c Rafique b Mortaza 85, J Bray run out Shakib 31, E Morgan run out 5, N O8217;Brien c Iqbal b Saqib 10, Kevin O8217;Brien run out 48, T Johnston c Nafees b Mortaza 30, A White run out 4, D Langford-Smith not out 6, A Botha not out 1.
Extras: 11-lb, 1-b, 6-w, 5-nb 23. Total for seven wickets, 50 overs 243.
Fall of wickets: 1-92, 2-101, 3-128, 4-176, 5-215, 6-233, 7-237.
Bowling: Mortaza 10-1-38-2, Hossain 9-1-51-0, Razzak 9-0-48-0, Rafique 10-0-42-0, Hasan 10-0-44-1, Ahmed 2-0-8-0.
BANGLADESH: T Iqbal b Johnston 29, S Nafees c Niall O8217;Brien b Rankin 7, A Ahmed c Niall O8217;Brien b Botha 12, S Hasan run out 3, M Ashraful c Langford-Smith b Rankin 35, H Bashar b Johnston 32, M Rahim b McCallan 16, M Mortaza c and b Langford-Smith 0, M Rafique c Johnston b Langford-Smith 2, A Razzak b McCallan 11, S Hossain not out 0.
Extras 18-w 4-lb 22. Total all out, 41.2 overs 169.
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-45, 3-48, 4-98, 5-102, 6-131, 7-134, 8-138, 9-169
Bowling: Rankin 8-0-42-2, Langford-Smith 10-1-27-2, Botha 8-0-31-1, Johnston 7.2-0-40-2, McCallan 8-1-25-2.
