Sammy, Simmons lift West Indies to 304/7

Stitch together 154-run partnership to pull the team out of trouble

Resilient knocks from centurion Lendl Simmons and Darren Sammy helped West Indies overcome early slump and post 304 for seven against Ireland in their cricket World Cup opener at Saxton Oval, here today.

Put in to bat, West Indies were reeling at 87 for five before Simmons (102) and Sammy (89) stitched together a 154-run sixth wicket stand to pull the team out of trouble.

Ireland medium-pacer Kevin O'Brien (1-71) drew first blood after sending back opener Dwayne Smith (18) in the eight over.

Darren Bravo was soon run out for a duck as Chris Gayle (36) tried to pull things together in his 65-ball stay, laced with 3 fours and a six.

But left-arm spinner George Dockrell (3-50) soon swung into action to pick the all-important wicket of Gayle (36) and trapped Marlon Samuels (21) lbw in the space of three deliveries.

Dockrell kept up the pressure after sending back wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin (1) in his very next over to rattle the West Indies.

But then came the moment of resurrection for the Jason Holder-led side as Simmons and Sammy combined the right dose of caution and aggression to slowly and steadily help the team spring back.

Once the duo brought some sanity to the innings, it took the attack to the opposition and literally toyed with the inexperienced Irish attack.

Hitting his ninth ODI half-century, Sammy's 67-ball stay was laced with 9 fours and 4 sixes while Simmons, registering his 2nd ODI hundred, hit 9 fours and 5 sixes in his 84-ball knock.

Sammy was finally picked up by Ireland pace spearhead John Mooney (1-59) in the 45th over but the former West Indies captain had already done the damage by then.

Simmons carried on in the same vein as Andre Russell (27 not out) joined him for some lusty hitting in the final five overs of the innings.

The duo managed a 61-run seventh wicket stand, as Russell hit 3 fours and a six in his 13-ball cameo. West Indies, who had started off poorly, finished on a high with 61 runs from the last 30 deliveries.