3rd ODI: Ireland register historic win over West Indies, win series 2-1

Ireland recorded their first-ever series win in the West Indies across formats when they won the third ODI by two wickets in Kingston on Sunday. Andy McBrine took four wickets and then finished as Ireland's highest scorer in the match with 59 runs but the visitors then had to survive a late collapse to win the thrilling series decider.

McBrine's performance squared a brilliant series for him in which he scored 128 runs and took 10 wickets.

The West Indies who got off to a flier batting first at Sabina Park as Shai Hope brought up the fastest half-century of his ODI career, reaching the landmark off just 37 balls.

But Hope’s departure in the 11th over sparked a collapse as the home side lost three wickets for four runs to heap the pressure on the middle order, with Craig Young and McBrine doing the damage with the ball.

And when McBrine struck for the third time to have captain Kieron Pollard caught in the slips for 19, it looked like the West Indies were in danger of posting an uncompetitive total.

A rear-guard effort, inspired by Holder (44), Akeal Hosein (23) and Odean Smith (20*), helped West Indies past 200. But Young returned to the attack to pick up his third wicket of the game to bring the innings



to a close, finishing with figures of 3/43.

McBrine and captain Paul Stirling steadied the ship for Ireland after opener William Porterfield was dismissed off the very first ball of the innings. Stirling took the attack to the West Indies and ensured that Ireland would always be ahead of the required rate with his sparky 44 off 38 balls, featuring five fours and a six.

McBrine and Tector added a further 79 runs for the third wicket, with McBrine continuing his outstanding match contribution with a steady 59 off 100 balls before falling to Odean Smith to leave Ireland 152/3.

But the wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, and when Tector was trapped LBW to Roston Chase for 52 his third half-century of the series there was a slither of hope for the West Indies that they may be able to pull off a remarkable late turnaround.

A huge heave saw Gareth Delany caught for a quick-fire ten from five, and a wonderful catch in the slips by Jason Holder accounted for George Dockrell to leave Ireland eight-down with five runs still required to win.

But Ireland’s tailenders Mark Adair and Craig Young held their nerve to get the team across the line, with Young’s delicate cut for four sealing the two-wicket win.