Two-time champions out from T20 World Cup run after disappointing loss to Ireland

Two-time champions West Indies have suffered a massive blow as they failed to qualify for the main round of the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup.

The Nicholas Pooran-led Caribbean side suffered a one-sided defeat against Ireland who progressed to the super 12s.

The West Indies’ Head coach Phil Simmons said his West Indies team “didn’t turn up” and it was back to the drawing board after Ireland dumped the two-time champions out of the T20 World Cup on Friday.

The West Indies’ World Cup ended in the first round at Hobart, a far cry from winning the title in 2012 and 2016 and the latest disappointment for the once-powerful Caribbean side.

They similarly won only one match at last year’s World Cup.

“We just didn’t turn up today,” Simmons said after the West Indies were thrashed by nine wickets by Ireland in a match they had to win to progress to the Super 12 stage.

Disciplined bowling restricted the West Indies to 146-5, with Gareth Delany taking a career-best 3-16 before the Irish romped to their target for the loss of just one wicket with 15 balls to spare.

“We started well with the bat, but we just didn’t continue,” added Simmons.

“I think when you sum it up, we were outplayed in all departments today. They bowled well. We batted well at the start but didn’t carry on, and they just batted well and batted us out of the game.”

The West Indies came into the tournament in Australia with a new-look team led by Nicholas Pooran after the likes of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard retired. Andre Russell was overlooked.

Reflecting on the West Indies’s dramatic fall from the top, Simmons said: “We have the batsmen, the capabilities, we just haven’t been putting it together.

“Our bowlers are showing up nine out of 10 times, but the batters haven’t really shown up.

“We’ve got to go back and look at our structure and how we play the game and make sure that when we come to competitions and when we play in bilateral series we are ready and able to do what’s necessary for each situation of the game.”

Ecstasy for Zimbabwe

On the other hand, Zimbabwe stormed into the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup for the first time at the expense of Scotland, beating them by five wickets with skipper Craig Ervine hitting a half-century.

The African nation limited the Scots to 132-6 with tidy bowling led by Tendai Chatara (2-14) and Richard Ngarava (2-28) before rattling through the run chase with nine balls to spare.

Zimbabwe had been part of five previous World Cups but never gone beyond the first round before.

But they have been improving since coach Dave Houghton, Zimbabwe’s first Test captain back in 1992, came into the fold for his second stint in July.

They beat Ireland to open their latest World Cup campaign then lost to the West Indies before booking their spot against the Scots.

Scotland skipper Richie Berrington won the toss and opted to bat, but they were on the back foot immediately, losing Michael Jones, who struck a masterly 86 against Ireland, in the first over.

Sikandar Raza took a superb over-the-shoulder catch off Chatara’s bowling to dismiss him.

Another spectacular diving catch was held by Wessly Madhevere at midwicket to remove Matthew Cross for one four overs later, leaving Scotland at 24-2 in the fifth over.

Opener George Munsey remained calm at the other end and built a 40-run partnership with Berrington before the skipper holed out to Milton Shumba in the deep off Raza for 13.

The run rate slowed in the face of some economical bowling as Munsey reached a ninth T20 half-century with a single, only to fall five balls later for 54, caught by Shumba off Ngarava before Calum MacLeod (25) and Michael Leask (12) added crucial late runs.

Zimbabwe started the chase with a four but then lost two wickets in eight balls.

After smacking the boundary, Regis Chakabva was trapped lbw by Brad Wheal and then Madhevere departed without scoring, dragging a Josh Davey delivery onto his stumps.

Sean Williams put on 35 in a partnership with Ervine, who missed their last match with a “mild asthmatic attack”, but the stand was broken when Michael Leask came into the attack and he was caught by Wheal for seven.

It left Zimbabwe at 55-3 after 10 overs.

But Ervine kept his focus to notch a ninth T20 half-century, happy to play second fiddle to the dangerous Raza (40 off 23) who swung the bat before he was caught behind by Cross off Davey.

When Ervine was out, chipping down the ground, they needed 14 off the last three overs, with Chris Greaves and Davey accomplishing the feat.