The veteran Ireland opener Paul Stirling, competing in his seventh Men's T20 World Cup, delivered when it counted, smashing a sensational 66 not out to lead Ireland to the Super 12 stage of the ongoing tournament with a nine-wicket thrashing of West Indies in their final Group B match in the first round at Bellerive Oval on Friday.
Gareth Delany's leg-spin, which had previously restricted the West Indies to 146/5 in 20 overs, pulled up career-best figures of 3/16. Stirling then came out swinging in his unbeaten 48-ball knock, smashing six fours and two sixes to make light work of the chase and bring it in with 15 balls left.
After failing to advance past the first round in each of their previous five T20 World Cup appearances, he put on a scorching 73-run opening stand with captain Andrew Balbirnie and then added 77 runs for the second wicket with Lorcan Tucker (45 not out) to help Ireland advance to the Super 12 stage and eliminate the unprepared two-time champions from the tournament.
Stirling aggressively swept Akeal Hosein for four runs after getting things started with a top-edge flying past slip off Obed McCoy in the first over, and skipper Andrew Balbirnie aggressively swept the left-arm spinner for six runs to score 16 runs off the second over.
Balbirnie picked up the pace by hitting two fours and a six on the first three balls of Odean Smith, while Stirling decisively clobbered Alzarri Joseph for a six over deep mid-wicket. The fifty of the first partnership was then raised, with an inside-out loft above cover-point for six.
In the final over of the power play, Stirling proceeded to pounce on Joseph. A top-edge sailed over the open slip cordon, and the very next ball slashed past backward point to make it back-to-back fours.
Stirling made sure Ireland didn't lose their bearings by hitting Joseph for a six over deep square leg after Balbirnie had fallen while cutting hard backward point off Hosein. Stirling also achieved his 21st T20I fifty by delivering a late dab beyond third man for four.
Lorcan Tucker, who overcame a caught-behind appeal off Smith on a no-ball, proved to be a capable ally for him. After starting the game with a sweep off Hosein, Tucker advanced by slog-sweeping him for six and reached the half-century mark of his second wicket partnership with Stirling with a powerful six over long-on for six off McCoy.
Stirling moved over and scooped Joseph over short fine leg for a four, displaying some of his creative stroke-play. McCoy's half-volley was turned into a loft over cover for four points by Tucker as he danced down the field to complete the chase and send Ireland to the Super 12.
Brief scores: West Indies 146/5 in 20 overs (Brandon King 62 not out, Johnson Charles 24; Gareth Delany 3/16, Simi Singh 1/11) lost to Ireland 150/1 in 17.3 overs (Paul Stirling 66 not out, Lorcan Tucker 45 not out; Akeal Hosein 1/38) by nine wickets.