KP, Smith lead Windies total

Mohali -  Devon Smith's maiden ODI century and powerful hitting from Kieron Pollard helped the Windies to a strong total against Ireland.

GALLERY: CWC 2011

Earlier, the Windies, who were put into bat after Ireland won the toss, made heavy work in the opening overs.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, promoted to the top of the order, and Devon Smith played cautious cricket, hitting only six fours in the first 15 overs against some typically nagging Irish bowling on a track that, despite plenty of grass, afforded little movement for the seamers.

With a long tail to come, the openers' safety-first approach seemed a clever move, but a Kevin O'Brien double-strike in the 25th over undermined their plans.

The quick dismissal of Darren Bravo as O'Brien's second wicket put a halt on any Windies surge for the time being, and Sarwan's wicket for just 10 runs off spinner George Dockrell maintained the Irish grip on proceedings.

The turning point came, however, with the introduction of Kieron Pollard, and the second batting powerplay.

Pollard smashed five sixes in his 94 off 55 balls, as Devon Smith moved steadily to and past his first career century. In the last overs of the innings, it looked as though Pollard would help the Windies past 300, but his wicket - caught in the deep off the bowling of Mooney - limited the Windies to a competitive but not unachievable 275 all out as the tail faltered.

Kevin O'Brien took career-best bowling figures of 4-71, with Mooney chipping in with 2-58.