Portia Simpson Miller. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has congratulated the West Indies for topping Group D and advancing to the Super Eights in the ICC WI Cricket World Cup.

"I wish to extend congratulations to our WI team for their sterling performances en route to qualifying for the Super Eight phase of an eventful ICC World Cup Tournament," Simpson Miller said in a release.

"Our Caribbean sons have so far displayed consistency, courage and character while dispatching all their opponents on their path to success. This is, in fact, our best showing at a World Cup in more than a decade, when we qualified for the semi-finals in 1996."

The regional side beat all its first round opponents - Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland - on its way to winning the group that was staged here, and the Prime Minister also commended the Local Organising Committee for its work and the fans for their support.

She said: "A special word of praise to the Local Organising Committee for their part in coordinating a splendid competition, right on the heels of a breathtaking opening ceremony."

She added: "To the fans, you have been simply awesome. To see you out in your thousands doing the Mexican wave and cheering on the West Indies was a sight to behold. This simply underlines the importance of spectator support at any sporting event." Simpson Miller, who is also the Sports Minister, extended condolences to the family of the late Pakistan coach Robert 'Bob' Woolmer, and the Pakistan team, on his passing.

Woolmer was found unconscious in his hotel room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel last Sunday, and later pronounced dead at the University Hospital of the West Indies, for what was later diagnosed as murder by strangulation.

Shocking loss

The incident followed his team's shocking loss to minnows Ireland, which effectively led to their elimination from the tournament.

Commenting on the tragedy, the Prime Minister said: "Amid all this, I must pause to commiserate with the family, the Pakistani team, and all those close to the late coach, Bob Woolmer, who died so tragically last week.

"Despite this incident threatening to overshadow an excellent competition, I urge all Jamaicans, and by extension the entire Caribbean, to remember the words of the West Indies cricket anthem - 'pretty soon the runs are going to flow again like water', but we must all play our part and rally 'round the West Indies, and may they continue their good form all the way to the grand finale."