It's coming together - Lara

Brian Lara proclaimed himself happy with his side's form in the group matches © Getty Images

Captain Brian Lara is confident his West Indies side are peaking at the right time after they celebrated reaching the Super Eight stage of the World Cup with a crushing eight-wicket victory over Ireland.

West Indies, who went into the game on the back of victories over Pakistan and Zimbabwe, chased down a rain-adjusted target of 190 with 59 balls to spare in Group D at Sabina Park after restricting Ireland to just 183 for eight.

Both West Indies and Ireland had already qualified for the Super Eight stage, but victory ensures Lara’s side carry with them two vital points and a healthy run-rate ahead of next Tuesday’s meeting with Australia.

“We are heading into the second round feeling very comfortable and we will be picking up some momentum,” said Lara. "It is coming together.

“We considered this game a Super Eight game. The win was important as well as ensuring that we had a very good run-rate at the end of it.”

Despite the convincing win and Shivnarine Chanderpaul smashing his sixth one-day international century, Lara is still demanding a higher level of consistency from his batsmen.

“All of our batters had a hit,” he said. “We got our seven bowlers having an opportunity. It is good for us but it is now for us to go out there and be more convincing.

“It is now for us to take hold of the situation, like Chanderpaul did in this match with the bat. I’m really comfortable with the guys in the field. We just need to up the ante a little bit with the bat in hand.

“I thought we played solid cricket throughout the three games.

“Everyone has had an opportunity. There have been teams where players haven’t had an opportunity because they were so good.”

Lara feels his players are ready for the challenge of facing the world champions at the new Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

“I know it is a different class of opponents in our next game on Tuesday, but we’ve played well against Australia in the recent past and we expect to do well if we play to our strengths,” he said.

“We’re building to the point where we want to get onto the bigger games, the Australians, the South Africans, the biggest teams in the tournament.

“So far we’ve performed really well; I’m proud of the guys.”