Porterfield props up Ireland to a decent score of 243 for 7

Bridgetown, Barbados, Apr 15 (UNI) William Porterfield (85) played the innings of his life to prop up Ireland to a decent 243 for seven against a below par Bangladesh in the Super Eight league match of cricket World Cup at Kensington Oval here today.

Porterfield and Jeremy Bray (31) gave Ireland the best platform they ever had in this World Cup, putting on 92 for the first wicket, but other Irish batsmen, except captain Trent Johnston (30) and Kevin O'Brien (48) failed to capitalize on the solid foundation as four batsmen ran themselves out.

Electing to bat on a wicket which has always promised to be bouncy and livelier, Johnson might have surprised many, but his batsmen went on to prove that he was terribly right on his decision.

He did not want Bangladeshi spin attack to dominate them on a slow afternoon pitch.

Porterfield and Bray took time to settle down but once the duo were through five overs, they started milking the mediocre Bangladeshi attack including the highly vaunted spinners.

Finding a level playing field after a long tough week, Poerterfield came out to play the best innings by any Irish in the tournament so far as he paid scant respect to the Bangladeshi bowlers. He had a slow start and allowed Irish innings to basically build around him.

The Bangladeshi bowlers, who have always been getting initial breakthroughs in the earlier matches, were negated today by Porterfield and Bray taking the score to 92 for no loss, their best opening wicket score.

The first breakthrough for Bangladesh was a 'gift' by Bray who he ran himself out after playing so well against the spinners while running for a non existent single. Hossain made no mistake to send the throw right above the bail and wicket-keeper Musfiqur Rahman did the rest.

Other Irish batsmen joined the self destrution mode even as the opening pair gave Ireland a brilliant platform to post a big total.

But the inexperience of Ireland caught on and they were hell bent on in bringing difficulty for themselves.

The next batsman, Eoin Morgan, also ran himself out after scoring a boundary. But what came next was even more horrible. The man in form Niall O'Brien started briskly and then went for a reverse sweep when he was just 10 giving a simple catch to Tamim Iqbal in the leg slip to bring back Bangladesh into the game.

Bangladesh, who were nowhere in the game in the first 35 overs, started squeezing the Irish after that.

Porterfield carried on a lone battle keeping a cool head till he was 85 but after that he too departed in the same fashion as others.

His 136-ball 85 consisted of just three boundaries.

He tried to play a sweep shot in a most awakard manner and the top edge landed safely in the hands of Mohammad Rafique, denying a him a much deserved century.

UNI