Kevin O’Brien scores fastest ever World Cup ton to inspire Irish to historic victory

England v Ireland Kevin O’Brien scores fastest ever World Cup ton to inspire Irish to historic victory

One of the charities attached to this World Cup has asked the players to nominate their favourite book. Perhaps after this humiliation by Ireland the England team will name We Need to Talk About Kevin following their punishment by one of the most amazing one-day innings of all time.


 

Lionel Shriver’s book is a sober, dark novel far removed from the world of sport. But the title fits with what occurred here because it will be a long time before anyone involved with cricket, particularly in Ireland, will stop talking about the century made by Kevin O’Brien.

It was the fastest hundred in a World Cup fixture and propelled Ireland to complete the highest successful run chase in the tournament’s history. It also left Ireland at the centre of one of the sport’s greatest shocks for the second successive tournament adding to their victory over Pakistan four years ago to deliver a resounding retort to those forcing associate nations out of future World Cups.

England deserved the defeat their form so far in this tournament has threatened. Twice the batsmen saved them from losses to Holland and India.


 

This time they fluffed the final overs of their own innings, down to a mixture of what looked like complacency and lack of a hitter in the O’Brien mould down the order. They added only 33 off their last five overs as they copied India’s mistake on Sunday of not putting the game out of sight when batting first.