Nelson, New Zealand: Left-arm spinner George Dockrell took three wickets as Ireland briefly lived up to its reputation as a giant-killer before West Indies stormed back to reach 304-7 in their Cricket World Cup Pool B match Monday.
Somerset's Dockrell (3-50) claimed the prized wicket of Chris Gayle and dismissed Marlon Samuels (21) and Denesh Ramdin (1), both lbw, as the West Indies slumped to 87-5 in the 24th over after being sent to bat.
Gayle made 36 from 65 balls in an uncharacteristically restrained innings but was just beginning to hit out, with three fours and a six, when he was caught in the deep by Kevin O'Brien.
Lendl Simmons led the West Indies' rally with 102, sharing a 154-run sixth wicket partnership with Darren Sammy, whose 89 was his highest one-day score.
It was the fifth straight game that the team batting first has scored more than 300 runs.
Porterfield went against the trend of the World Cup so far when he sent the West Indies in after winning the toss. In the four previous matches, the toss winner had batted first and compiled scores in excess of 300, going on to win comfortably.
The 22-year-old Dockrell, playing his 43rd ODI, took on the attacking role when he was called on as the fifth bowler employed by Ireland captain William Porterfield.
Right-armer Kevin O'Brien, one of several Ireland players appearing his third World Cup, had dismissed opener Dwayne for 18 in the eighth over. Darren Bravo was then run out without scoring by Andy McBrine's brilliant throw and, at 31-2 in the same over, the Irish sensed they were on the cusp of another upset to go with those at the 2007 World Cup, when they beat Pakistan, and 2011 when they beat England.
Gayle's wicket was the key one and it fell to Dockrell in the 22nd over when the West Indies were 78-3.
Andre Russell finished 27 not out from 13 balls as the West Indies added 124 runs from their last 10 overs.
