PM Modi, Sonowal hail Indian cricket team

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated the Indian cricket team for registering its fifth straight win in the ongoing cricket World Cup Down Under.

Shikhar Dhawan cracked a scintillating century as a rampaging India created a record winning ninth consecutive ICC Cricket World Cup match, including four in the previous edition, by demolishing Ireland by eight wickets to seal the top spot in the Group-B table.

"Superb all-round performance. Congrats Team India! Keep up the momentum," the Prime Minister tweeted.

In a message, Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said: "Win against Ireland has once again proved that India's consistently fine performance at the tournament is a matter of pride for all Indians."

He also congratulated Man of the Match Dhawan. Sonowal hailed skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for becoming the most successful captain for India in the history of the World Cup.

Chasing a respectable Ireland total of 259, opener Dhawan (100 off 85 balls) sent the Irish bowlers on a leather hunt en route his eighth ODI hundred as the defending champions reached the target in 36.5 overs to record their fifth consecutive win in this tournament.