Ireland became the ICC World Cup cricket tournament’s first giant slayers when they downed two-time champions West Indies by four wickets in Nelson today.
The victory, the first by a team batting second in five games so far, followed on from Ireland’s famous wins over England at the 2011 World Cup and Pakistan four years earlier.
Chasing a mammoth total of 305 to win at Saxton Oval, they coasted home with Paul Stirling making 92, Ed Joyce 84 and Niall O´Brien not out on 79.
Earlier, Darren Sammy and Lendl Simmons helped guide West Indies to 304 for seven.
Simmons (102), the nephew of Ireland coach Phil, and former captain Sammy (89) managed to rescue West Indies from total embarrassment with a 154-run partnership as the pitch got easier to bat on.
The pair had been forced together at 87 for five in the 24th over after the top order had struggled with the lack of pace from Ireland´s bowling attack.
Simmons and Andre Russell (27 not out) then put on 61 in five overs to give West Indies a total they had never looked likely to achieve earlier.
West Indies´ top order performed abysmally against the slower pace after Ireland skipper William Porterfield had won the toss and asked them bat.
Dockrell finished with three for 50, while off-spinner Andy McBrine conceded just 26 runs from his 10 overs.
Both Chris Gayle (36) and fellow opener Dwayne Smith (18) fell to lofted shots into the outfield from deliveries they failed to middle.
Marlon Samuels (21) and Denesh Ramdin (one) were then trapped in front by Dockrell, the former requesting a review that failed to overturn the decision.
