West Indies batsman Darren Sammy and Irish bowler John Mooney have both been fined for using bad language during their opening Cricket World Cup pool match in Nelson.
Ireland won the match by four wickets at Saxton Oval, chasing down the West Indies’ 7-304 with 25 balls to spare.
Sammy, who combined with Lendl Simmons in a crucial 154-run sixth-wicket partnership, and Mooney were both fined 30 per cent of their match fees for separate incidents.
Sammy was heard on television screens using inappropriate words after playing a shot in the 34th over, while Mooney swore several times when a fielder dropped a catch in the 45th over.
Both players admitted the offences and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Chris Broad.
Sammy began his post-match press conference by apologising for the incident.
“I’ve been handed a breach of the code of conduct for a swear word, so I’d like to apologise to the viewers for that, especially the young kids listening,” he said.
It wasn’t the first surprise victory for Ireland in their World Cup history.
The giant-killing Irish had previously recorded World Cup wins over England four years ago and Pakistan in 2007, and captain William Porterfield said afterwards the latest victory comes as no surprise.
“I don’t see it as an upset,” he said. “We prepared to come into this game to win, we’re going to prepare to go into the UAE game to win, and South Africa after that.
“We’re looking to pick up two points in every game, and as long as we’re doing the right things and building up to that, then we’re happy.”
Although Ireland had started well in reducing the Windies to 5-87 midway through the 24th over, their bowlers faded in the latter stages as the West Indies piled on 124 off the last 10 overs to set Ireland a challenging 305 for the win.
Porterfield, who put on 71 for the first wicket with Paul Stirling (92), said the win was set up by a solid start which saw Ireland through to 2-177 after 28 overs.
“After we got off to the start and set the platform with the way everyone carried it on throughout the innings, it was a great feeling that kind of bred confidence,” he said.
“We always felt under control and never at any stage did we feel like we were under any pressure.”
Darren Sammy, whose 154-run sixth wicket partnership with Lendl Simmons resurrected the West Indies’s innings, says the team won’t give up on making the quarter-finals.
“If we continue to play like that, we won’t be here for long, for sure,” he said.
“But you win four out of five matches or sometimes even four out of six, and then you can still get into the quarters.
“So, yeah, we’re not going to keep our heads down, but we still believe we can make it into the top four in this group.”
