Nothing changed as India crossed Tasmanian borders. It was business as usual in New Zealand for the defending champions - a fifth win in a row over the Irish who stay alive despite an eight-wicket hammering at the hand of the Indians, which gives MS Dhoni's boys a 5-0 record identical to the Kiwis.

Shikhar Dhawan (100) and Rohit Sharma (64) made a mockery of a decent 259 put up the Irish as India cruised to victory with 79 balls to spare. There was no resistance whatsoever from the Green Machine that started off really well following William Porterfield's decision to bat but lost way midway through the innings against Mohammad Shami and R Ashwin.

India's fifth consecutive win was also the team's ninth in a row in World Cups with Dhoni as skipper, which helped him break Sourav Ganguly's record of 8 victories on the bounce. It also took Dhoni past former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd to No. 2 in the overall list of captains with most consecutive wins at World Cups.

The result also turns Ireland's last pool match against Pakistan into a shootout for a place in the quarters, with both the teams on six points.

Chasing a competitive target, Dhawan and Rohit started things off in a very cautious manner as the Men in Blue could only manage 22 off the first 5 overs. But little did the Irishmen know that it was the lull before the storm as what happened after that was real carnage. Dhawan went on to score his eighth ODI century off just 84 balls and got good company in the form of Rohit (64) who brought up his 25th half-century.

There was nothing much to write home about the Irish attack as it lacked penetration and India cashed in on some easy runs. Dhawan was earlier dropped by John Mooney, who could not hold onto a fairly simple caught and bowled chance and later at backward point which was a touch difficult but nonetheless a chance at this level.

The opening stand between Rohit and Dhawan yielded 174 runs before Rohit chopped onto his stumps to a ball he wanted to guide towards third-man, which gave Thompson his first wicket. Rohit was soon followed by Dhawan (100), who got out to the same bowler trying to go for another big one, but not before he had reached his century as India lost their second wicket with the score on 190.

With both the openers dismissed, the onus was on Virat Kohli (44*) and Ajinkya Rahane (33*) to finish things off for India and the duo didn't disappoint as they played some scintillating shots on their way to taking India home without any further damage.

While three of the last eight spots yet to be finalised, Ireland was up there at Seddon Park to take a leaf out of Bangladesh's book after they surpassed their own expectations by taming England to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Earlier, the script was ready for Ireland as Porterfield decided to bat first on a pitch that was nothing less than a batting paradise.

The two Irish openers Porterfield (67) and Paul Stirling (42) made the most of the opportunity as they took their team off to a flier. This was the first time in the entire tournament when the Indian new ball bowlers failed to produce a breakthrough and by the look of things Ireland meant business in the mandatory Powerplay.

The first 15 overs produced 89 runs as Ireland lost Stirling at the stroke of drinks. Ashwin got his team the first breakthrough that broke the 89-run stand as India, for the first time in the tournament, were struggling to keep the runs down.

But Dhoni's Midas touch got India another breakthrough as out of nowhere he got Suresh Raina into the attack, which yielded immediate results as the offspinner sent Ed Joyce (2) packing.

Raina's inclusion in the bowling attack turned out to be really beneficial for the team as he kept the scoring to bare minimum and returned with figures of 1 for 40 in his 10 overs. India kept on piling the pressure as Porterfield and Niall O'Brien were not allowed to get away with freebies.

A fifty-run stand between the two resurrected the Ireland innings but Porterfield's departure jolted their progress as India kept pegging away at the wickets every time there was a partnership.

In the meantime, O'Brien (75) started opening his shoulders and he, along with Andy Balbirnie (24), got Ireland right back in the match with a quickfire 50-run stand. But Ashwin came back for his final spell and got rid of Balbirnie against the run of play. From there on, it was much like a landslide for the Irish team as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Shami sent Kevin O'Brien (1) packing in the very next over, which was soon followed by Gary Wilson (6) walking back to the dressing room as Ireland were now in danger of getting bowled out inside 50 overs.

Nail O'Brien's wicket was the final nail in coffin as he made way for Stuart Thompson (2) who was brilliantly run-out by Virat Kohli and Ireland in the end finished with a score of 259 after being bowled out by India with an over to spare. This was the first time India maintained a clean-sheet in terms of bowling oppositions out in the World Cup, New Zealand being the other team to do the same in this World Cup.

Shami was the pick of the bowlers (3 for 41) as his fairytale with the ball continued and Ashwin's 2 for 38 gave him good support as India once again looked a far more superior side.