Ireland lose to Windies in close fought clash

For a while, it looked as if history was going to be made but in the end it was not to be. After restricting West Indies to just 96 runs in their innings, it looked as though Ireland would beat them for the second time in three days to clinch their first ever series way from home against a full time nation. Alex Cusack set it up with four wickets for just 11 runs but ultimately the West Indian bowlers who have served their country well at the top level showed their class to win by 11 runs.

After being put into bat by the opposition, it would have been in the minds of the hosts to put Ireland on the back foot early on and that is exactly what Andre Fletcher tried to do within the first three overs. Max Sorensen and Tim Murtagh, the two opening bowlers were both hit back over their heads for sixes as they raced to 20 without loss after three overs which prompted Porterfield to make early bowling changes.

And they worked so well. Alex Cusack with his first ball removed Russell as he edged it to Gary Wilson behind the stumps. This changed the whole complexion of the innings. In his next over Cusack forced Dwayne Smith to drive and he edged it to Porterfield who was standing behind square to gobble up the catch.

Ireland has wrestled back control and for the rest of the innings the restricted their opponents to the odd boundary while wickets fell at regular intervals with Stuart Thompson and Kevin O’Brien sticking to tight and effective lines and taking their wickets.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect was the fielding. The fielding forced the batsmen into mistakes as they called for runs that weren’t there and were duly punished by Porterfield and Sterling who both claimed run outs and at the end of the innings the score was 96/9 which had the Boys in Green scenting victory.

A steady batting performance, just like Wednesday night would have been enough to win the game. The total was less than the 116 that they successfully chased down on that occasion but as soon as William Porterfield and Paul Sterling walked to the crease they were under pressure.

Tight Bowling from the hosts restricted Ireland to just three runs off their first two overs and in truth the batting performance never recovered from there. The tricky spinner, who boasts the best economy rate in Twenty20 cricket kept Ireland in check and Krishmar Santokie provided superb back up at the other end.

At the half way point, the score was 25/6. Going at just two and a half runs an over, Ireland had to be careful and not let this turn into a spectacular batting collapse. But Gary Wilson, who steadied the innings during Wednesday’s win, played a superb knock of 35 of 39 balls. It was leading Ireland in the right direction and with Max Sorensen keeping his wicket at the other end; it looked as though Ireland might pull it out of the fire.

But with bowlers like Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo in the opposition, it was always going to be a tough ask and with the run rate slowly creeping up, Wilson tried one shot too many and he scooped the ball high up in the air as Bravo took the catch off his own bowling.

This was ultimately the end as Ireland slumped to defeat. The teams meet again on Sunday in a One day International to finish the series.