Ireland rue missed chances as Powell hundred leads West Indies to win

An eye-catching maiden century by Rovman Powell steered the Windies into the Super Six of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 with a convincing 52 runs victory over Ireland in a Group A match, while Zimbabwe also maintained their unbeaten run in Group B and progressed to the next stage with an 89 runs victory over Hong Kong on Saturday.

Six hit for Powell

In front of broadcast cameras and nearly 2,000 spectators at the Harare Sports Club, Powell scored a dazzling less than run-a-ball 101 with seven fours and as many sixes to lift the Windies from 83 for five to 257 for eight. He featured in an 86-run sixth-wicket partnership with captain Jason Holder, who hit three fours and a six in a 71-ball 54.

Fast bowler Tim Murtagh was the pick of the Ireland bowlers with figures of 10-2-41-4, while Andy McBrine picked up two for 45.

Pulled by Ed Joyce

Windies fast bowler Kemar Roach then picked up two early wickets of Paul Stirling (18) and Andrew Balbirnie (9) and then returned to dismiss the dangerous looking Ed Joyce (63, 86b, 7x4) and Kevin O'Brien (38) in a space of four deliveries to finish will figures of 10-3-27-4 as Ireland slipped from 166-4 to 205 all out in 46.2 overs. Kesrick Williams too did his part as he got rid of the lower-order batsmen, taking four for 43 in 8.2 overs.