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An innings of 62 from Gary Wilson and an all-round performance from Stuart Thompson was not enough to deny West Indies victory in the final match of Ireland’s tour of the Caribbean.
Fifties from openers Dwayne Smith and Kieron Powell alongside cameos from West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo and Marlon Samuels saw West Indies home to a four-wicket win over Ireland this evening at Sabina Park, Jamaica.

Earlier in the day, Ireland captain William Porterfield won another toss but this time chose to bat first in searing heat in Kingston. Niall O’Brien returned to the Ireland team in place of Alex Cusack and on a pitch that seemed to be offering a little to both sides, Paul Stirling will have been disappointed to fall for his third low score in as many games as was bowled by a beauty from the impressive Jason Holder.

There was a bizarre turn of events in the 11th over of the match, Miguel Cummins on debut for the hosts, bowled three consecutive no-balls, two of which were dispatched for 6 by the Irish captain, William Porterfield. Yet the very next ball, Porterfield was out, just 2 legal deliveries yet 16 runs and 1 wicket to the scoreboard.

Ed Joyce also fell soon after as he was deceived by a Dwayne Bravo slower ball and caught at mid-off. When Niall O’Brien fell for 12 Ireland were in trouble at 78 for 4 and it took a nice partnership of 43 from Gary Wilson and Kevin O’Brien to get Ireland back on track.

The Ireland Touring Squad at Sabina Park

Kevin O’Brien then went caught and bowled to the left-arm spin of Nikita Miller and when Andrew Poynter went for only 3 to the same bowler Ireland were back in the mire at 132 for 6.

Stuart Thompson and Gary Wilson came together to see Ireland up to a competitive total with Thompson striking the ball particularly well for 33 off just 34 balls. His partnership with Wilson, whose knock of 62 from 96 balls kept Ireland’s innings together, was crucial. Despite a late flutter of wickets in the last 3 overs as Ireland pressed for quick runs, the Boys in Green reached the 200 mark. The last 4 wickets fell for 9 runs in just 14 balls to leave Ireland All Out for 202 in 49.2 overs.

Dwayne Smith struck the ball very cleanly

The West Indies openers, Kieran Powell and Dwayne Smith then set about the Irish attack quickly, with Smith smashing the first two balls of the innings for four. They put on a hundred partnership inside 17 overs to put the hosts on track for what looked like an easy win, but the introduction of Stuart Thompson changed the game as his double strike coupled with a George Dockrell run-out gave Ireland three wickets for just 8 runs to leave the hosts 108 for 3.

Dwayne Bravo commenced in the same aggressive vein as Dwayne Smith and his innings of 35 came from just 29 balls before he holed out off the bowling of Sorensen; when Paul Stirling had Powell stumped a few overs later, the West Indies were five wickets down and there was a glimmer of hope for Ireland as they searched to end their tour with a win.

Even though George Dockrell trapped Dinesh Ramdin LBW, the wise head of Marlon Samuels saw West Indies home with a cool innings of 26 not out and Ireland were yet again rueing what might have been in a match against a Test Nation.

Next up for Ireland is the 2014 ICC World Twenty 20 which starts next month in Bangladesh. Ireland’s initial group features Zimbabwe, the Netherlands and the UAE; the tournament starts for Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 v Zimbabwe in Sylhet.

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West Indies XI: Powell, Smith, K.Edwards, Samuels, DM Bravo, DJ Bravo*, Ramdin+, Sammy, Holder, Miller, Cummins

Ireland XI: Porterfield*, Stirling, Joyce, Wilson+, Poynter, N.O’Brien, K.O’Brien, Thompson, Sorensen, Murtagh, Dockrell

Cricket Ireland
Gary Wilson made 62 © WICB
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