HOBART: Ireland advanced in the T20 World Cup by dumping out two-time champions West Indies with a nine-wicket victory on Friday.
In a winner-take-all final match of the group stage, Ireland coasted a pursuit of 147 with 15 balls to spare.
Paul Stirling added a whirlwind 73 with captain Andy Balbirnie for the first wicket and ended on 66 not out.
A superb bowling display restricted West Indies to 146-5, with leg-spinner Gareth Delany picking up 3-16.
West Indies are far from the force that won the title in 2012 and 2016 and lost to Scotland in their opening match on Monday, while Ireland are a Test nation in their own right.
The Irish, who finish second in Group B and move on to Group One of the Super 12s, alongside hosts Australia, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
They will play England in Melbourne on Wednesday, the first time the two sides have met in a global event since the Irish pulled off a stunning upset at the 2011 50-over World Cup.
