West Indies ODI woes extended

West Indies lost to Ireland by two wickets at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Sunday, to be beaten 2-1 in the CG Insurance One-Day International series.

Going into the decisive game of the three -match series, with each team having one each previously, the West Indies started brightly with Shai Hope and Justin Greaves putting on 72 for the first wicket.

Hope made 53 and Greaves- 12.

Thereafter, it was all downhill as the West Indies’ batting woes took effect in usual fashion, as 72 for 1, then became 119/7.

It took a 63 -run alliance between Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd to restore some respectability to the West Indies total. Holder led the fight back striking 6 fours in his 44.

After he departed, the innings ended at 212 in the 44.4 overs.

Instructively, it was the third time in the series that the West Indies failed to bat through their 50 overs. In the first match which the West Indies won by 24 runs, they batted 48.5 overs; and in the second which Ireland won by five wickets on the Duckworth/ Lewis Method, the West Indies’ innings lasted 48 overs.

Sunday’s 212 made by the West Indies, saw Ireland’s captain- Andy Mc Brine taking 4/28 and Craig Young- 3/43.
Set 213 for victory, and more so a rare series win, Ireland’s Mc Brine led from the front making 59; Harry Tector- 52, while stand-in captain, Paul Stirling hit a quick fire 44.

Roston Chase had 3 for 44, and Akeal Hosein 3 for 53, but Ireland held on to reach 214 for 8, winning by two wickets with 31 balls to spare.

Ireland thus came away with 20 points and West Indies 10, as the two chase positions in the ICC Super League table.

West Indies will shift gear and hopefully fortunes too, when they turn to England in a five match T/20 International series, beginning this Saturday at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.