World Cup, India vs Ireland as it happened: India crush Ireland by 8 wickets

That’s it! Kohli finished it in style with a thumping four. India beat Ireland by 8 wickets.

What a perfectly professional performance. A comprehensive win for them. Their Spinners did well to restrict Ireland to 259 and then the batsmen came out and just blasted the hapless Ireland bowling. Dhawan was dropped twice early in his innings and he made them pay with a brilliant ton.

After 36 overs, India 254/2 (Kohli 39, Rahane 32)

They are looking to finish this off as early as possible. Rahane chops one to third man for a boundary and then Kohli cuts it powerfully through point for another boundary. 12 runs off the over.  India need 6 runs from 14 overs now.

After 35 overs, India 242/2 (Kohli 33, Rahane 27)

Ireland lose their review. There is a huge LBW shout turned down against Rahane. Ireland opt for a review and replays show that it was clipping the bails. Umpire’s call and hence Rahane survives.  A couple of singles and then Rahane gets a streaky boundary as he gets an outside edge to third man. 6 runs off the over. 18 needed off 15 overs now.

After 34 overs, India 236/2 (Kohli 32, Rahane 22)

The first over of the Batting Powerplay costs Ireland 9 runs. After a couple of singles. Kohli cuts one powerfully through backward point for a boundary. Another couple of singles make it 9 form the over. Just 24 needed to win now.

We should replace all IIMs with Rahane because his placement is better.

— Abhishek Madan (@abhishekmadan) March 10, 2015

After 33 overs, India 228/2 (Kohli 26, Rahane 20)

Rahane is dealing in boundaries now.  He leans forward and drives it crisply through covers off Mooney for a boundary and then plays an even better cover drive off the penultimate ball of the over to make it 10 runs from the over.  India need 32 from 17 overs.

After 32 overs, India 218/2 (Kohli 26, Rahane 12)

India just milking the bowling at the moment. There’s nothin that the Irish bowlers can do. They have bowled poor lengths and got punished. Not learning from their mistakes. After three singles from first four deliveries, Thompson drops one short and wide, Rahane cuts it through point for a boundary. 8 runs off the over. India need 42 from 18 overs.

After 31 overs, India 210/2 (Kohli 24, Rahane 6)

India’s batsmen have played some gorgeous shots and now Rahane joins that party. After three runs off the first four balls, Rahane drives one crisply through mid on for a four.  7 runs off the over. India have completely bossed this chase. This might hamper Ireland’s confidence before the big match against Pakistan!

After 30 overs, India 203/2 (Kohli 21, Rahane 2)

Now Kohli has started playing some gorgeous shots. He is lookign to attack. Thompson delivers it full on off, Kohli just cracks it through mid on and it races away tot he fence. He then dabs one wide of third man for a couple and takes a single to long off off the next ball. Rahane gets a couple off the middle but straight to the fielders. 7 runs off the over. India need 57 from 20 overs!

After 29 overs, India 196/2 (Kohli 14, Rahane 2)

A tight over from Kevin O’Brien. Kohli looked to charge down the track but didn’t get the required length to hit a boundary. 5 singles off the over.

After 28 overs, India 191/2 (Kohli 11, Rahane 0)

A successful over from Thompson, one in which he got the wicket of Dhawan. He started off badly as Hohli thumped him over long on for a six. But then hit back to take Dhawan’s wicket. 8 runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Thompson finally dismisses Dhawan (100). S Dhawan c Porterfield b Thompson 100 (85b 11×4 5×6), India 190/2 (27.4). 

A very good inns comes to an end.  Full on middle and off from Thompson, Dhawan looks to whip it uppishly over mid-wicket but gets a top edge high in the air, Porterfield at covers runs backwards and pouches a brilliant catch. A fine innings comes to an end. 

Ajinkya Rahane is the new batsman.

After 27 overs, India 183/1 (Dhawan 100, Kohli 3)

Kohli takes a single to long on off the first ball which brings Dhawan on strike who is on 97. He punches one through point for a couple to get to 99. He tries desperately for a single off the the next two balls but doesn’t find the gap. he finally tucks one to the leg side and take a single to bring up his ton. 5 runs off the over.

CENTURY for Dhawan!

Dhawan gets to his 8th ODI ton, his 2nd of #CWC15 .He was dropped twice early on & he’s punished Ireland! 11 fours and five sixes in his innings so far.

After 26 overs, India 178/1 (Dhawan 97, Kohli 1)

Dhawan gets a leg bye of the second ball. Thompson then resorts to bowling wide to Kohli who ends up missing a couple of drive. He finally gets one off the middle and gets off the mark off the 10th ball with a single. Dhawan can’t fins the gap off the last two balls and is still on 97! One run and a leg bye off the over.

After 25 overs, India 175/1 (Dhawan 97, Kohli 0)

A tight over from Kevin O’Brien! yes you heard that right. Just one run off it and yes you heard that right too!

It's been chastening for Ireland but they have a wicket, Rohit chopping on. 1-174 in 25th http://t.co/8mHcPEzJcf pic.twitter.com/tfPO9PRGuC

— CODE Cricket (@codecricketau) March 10, 2015

After 24 overs, India 174/1 (Dhawan 96, Kohli 0)

Ireland finally had something to smile in that over as Thomson bagged a wicket and gave away just two runs. Rohit might be kicking himself to have missed out on a century on his belter of a pitch. Dhawan, however, is nearing century and is on 96!

OUT! Finally, Thompson breaks the 174-run opening stand. RG Sharma b Thompson 64 (66b 3×4 3×6). India 174/1 (23.2) (Dhawan 96) 

Rohit chops it on.  Length delivery outside off, Rohit stays in his crease and looks to steer close to his body but gets an inside edge onto the stumps. The relief on Thompson’s face is clearly palpable. A fine innings comes to an end. 

Virat Kohli strides out to the middle.

After 23 overs, India 172/0 (Rohit 62, Dhawan 96)

Dhawan is upstoppable at the moment. He paddles one to fine leg off Kevin O’Brien for a boundary and then whips it through mid-wicket for another one to move on to 96 from 74 balls. 10 runs off the over again. These two are simply unstoppable.

After 22 overs, India 162/0 (Rohit 61, Dhawan 87)

SIX! Dhawan is doing all sorts of things today. He gets a one-handed six off Dockrell. And that was HUGE! Before that, he lofts one over cover for a couple. Rohit is contempt taking singles. 10 runs off the over.

After 21 overs, India 152/0 (Rohit 60, Dhawan 78)

Dhawan brings up India’s 150 as he clobbers one over long leg off Kevin O’Brien for a six. Absolutely poor bowling from Kevin. He’s been the most expensive bowler in this World Cup and also in the death overs. Two singles off the next five balls make it 8 runs from the over.

After 20 overs, India 144/0 (Rohit 59, Dhawan 71)

India are just cruising at the moment. Rohit glances it to fine leg for a couple and then takes a single to point. Dhawan than charges down the track and hammers Dockrell over deep mid-wicket for a six. Another single makes it 10 runs off the over.

After 19 overs, India 134/0 (Rohit 56, Dhawan 64)

After Dhawan, Rohit is looking in cruise control. He brings up his fifty with a six over extra cover and then there are three singles to make it 9 runs from the over. Nothing going the way of Ireland. The missing X-Factor is costing them!

FIFTY for Rohit! India 131/0 (18.2) 

Rohit gets to his fifty in style with a six over extra cover off Stirling. Three fours and three sixes in his innigns so far. He has played some gorgeous shots.

After 18 overs, India 125/0 (Rohit 48, Dhawan 63)

Dhawan seems to be getting bored here! He tries something different, something audacious. He shuffles and looks to scoop but ends up hitting it on the helmet of the keeper. Thankfully, the keeper is alright. The next five ball yield 4 singles. There is no need for Dhawan to play these audacious strokes. He has a very good opportunity to get his second ton of the World Cup!

After 17 overs, India 107/0 (Rohit 46, Dhawan 61)

Dhawan attacking after his fifty. He at first charges down the track and hammers Stirling over long on for a six and then sweeps the next one for a well placed boundary. it included three singles too.  14 runs off the over. This is good stuff from the Indian openers!

FIFTY for Dhawan!

Dhawan gets to his 50 off 54 balls. He made the most of the 2 lifelines so far!  8 fours and one six in his innings so far.