KJ O’Brien’s sensational and fastest century of the world cups set a first upset of the ICC World Cup 2011 sinking England by 3 wickets at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.
Ireland won with five balls to spare as they finished on 329 for seven after England, who had made 327 for eight, had been cruising when they reduced non-Test playing Ireland to 111 for five. But a brilliant burst of power-hitting got O Brien to three figures in just 50 balls at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
That meant he d obliterated former Australia opener Matthew Hayden s previous fastest World Cup century record off 66 balls against South Africa at St Kitts in 2007. O Brien s whirlwind innings of 113 off 63 balls, including six sixes and 13 fours, ended when he was run out by Stuart Broad s throw to wicketkeeper Matt Prior. Ireland s target was down to three off the last over and victory was secured when John Mooney struck a four off James Anderson.
"I don t think it s quite sunk in," said 26-year-old O Brien, after another famous win to follow Ireland s shock World Cup triumph over Pakistan in 2007. He said, "It s probably the best innings I ve ever played. I just hit the ball pretty well and got a bit of luck and things went my way. I just kept going and kept attacking.”
Earlier Jonathan Trott equalled the record for the fastest 1,000 runs in one-day internationals. Trott s 92 was the centrepiece of England s 327 for eight and when he made 64 he equalled West Indies great Vivian Richards and England team-mate Kevin Pietersen in taking just 21 innings to reach four figures in ODIs.
Ireland s victory was all the more impressive as they lost captain William Porterfield to the first ball of their reply when he dragged on to Anderson.
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