Ireland cricket created history on Sunday as they defeated West Indies by two wickets in the final ODI in Kingston to win the three-match bilateral series 2-1.
Follow Us
Kingston has been a venue that has given dream moments in Ireland cricket. In the 2007 World Cup, they defeated Pakistan by four wickets to knock them out of the tournament in the first round. 15 years later, Kingston gave Ireland another historic moment in their cricket. Boosted by the all-round brilliance of Andy McBrine who took 4/28 and 59, Ireland won the final ODI by two wickets to win the series 2-1. For Kieron Pollard, the disappointment was evident as he labeled this loss as a ‘sad day for West Indies cricket’.
West Indies suffered an inexplicable collapse after the opening partnership had laid a solid foundation. Andy McBrine and Craig Young were simply outstanding in the middle overs, not allowing any leeway to the West Indies. When Ireland batted, McBrine and Harry Tector had given a solid partnership but they too suffered from some nervous moments. When Young and Mark Adair guided the team over the line, Ireland had yet another glorious moment in the Caribbean.
Ireland chose to bowl with both sides not making any changes. West Indies made a great start with Shai Hope in fine form. Ireland was not helped by the fact that Joshua Little was warned twice by the umpire for running onto the danger area of the wicket. Hope smashed three boundaries in one over of Little as he made a great start. Hope continued to flourish, smashing two fours off Young and Adair.
Read – USA create history vs Ireland in first T20I
Justin Greaves was just a passenger at the other end as Hope continued to flourish. He blasted a six and a four off Adair to notch up his fifty off just 37 balls. West Indies were going at over seven runs an over but Young found the opening by dismissing Hope for 53. Young struck again with Greaves falling for 12. The collapse had now begun.
McBrine trapped Nicholas Pooran LBW for 2. In the next couple of overs, Shamarh Brooks and Kieron Pollard fell to McBrine who had figures of 3/12. When Roston Chase fell for 19, West Indies had lost six wickets for 29 runs. The hosts continued to lose wickets and only Jason Holder remained firm.
Holder held firm with a couple of fours as he looked to revive the West Indies. He benefited from a dropped catch when Young failed to latch onto a simple catch off the bowling of Paul Stirling. Akeal Hosein and Holder then opened up with a couple of fours off Stirling and Little. The partnership was boosting West Indies to 200 but a desperate second run by Jason Holder saw him being run-out for 44. Odean Smith then smashed a six but Hosein fell to McBrine for 23. Alzarri Joseph and Smith then helped West Indies past 200 but the resistance did not last long and they were bowled out for 212.
Ireland started disastrously when Alzarri Joseph sent back William Porterfield first ball. It could have been double trouble for Ireland but Holder dropped Paul Stirling at slip off Romario Shepherd. McBrine and Stirling then steadied the ship with some lusty blows. Stirling, in particular, looked in good touch as he launched Odean Smith for a six. McBrine and Stirling’s partnership reached 75 but Hosein sent back Stirling for 44.
West Indies could have sealed the deal but McBrine was dropped on 28. In the 25th over, West Indies did not go for the review for a catch, with Tector edging a short ball from Pollard. McBrine notched up his fifty and he celebrated the landmark with a six off Hosein.
Just as Ireland was closing in on a famous win, Smith sent back McBrine for 59. Tector, though, held firm. Despite losing Neil Rock, Curtis Campher steadied the ship with a couple of crisp boundaries. Tector hit his fifty but Campher fell to Roston Chase for 11. Alarm bells were rung when Tector was sent back for 52 by Chase, who took his third wicket. But, Gareth Delaney hit a four and a six as Ireland needed just six runs.
But, Hosein sent back Delaney and George Dockrell in quick succession as Ireland was in danger of throwing it away. West Indies missed a run-out chance of Young and he made them pay. The batter hit a four to seal a famous win. With this, they have now gone to the third spot in the ICC ODI World Super League points table. This win will definitely boost the profile of Ireland cricket in the coming years.
