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Eglinton – On a lively pitch with overhead conditions for the bowlers, Emerging Ireland put in an impressive all-round performance to beat the visiting side.

Having won the toss Emerging Ireland decided to have first go with the ball and looked to get full value from this decision with early wickets to Matthew Foster who was especially impressive.

West Indies Academy rebuilt and were soon in a position to drastically increase their rate of scoring with Leonardo Julien showing a full array of attacking strokes in his 82 from 61 deliveries.

Even with this dramatic scoring, the Emerging Ireland bowlers kept at their task, being rewarded with quieter middle overs which allowed them prize out important wickets.

Key overs of spin from Gavin Hooey, Matt Humphries, and Scott Macbeth then moved Emerging Ireland into the ascendency and saw the home side able to bowl out the visitors for 224 after 43.1 overs.

Resuming after the innings break the West Indies Academy bowlers got appreciable assistance from the surface but Emerging Ireland battled through an early difficult period.

The fall of Chris DeFreitas and Jake Egan gave the visitors a way in, but the middle order batters refused to undo previous good work that had given them such a strong position.

The second half of the chase then required the Emerging Ireland batters to increase the rate while West Indies Academy bowlers refused to give away the pressure they had built.

Morgan Topping (66*) with the help of Scott Macbeth (42 off 37) and Kian Hilton (18 off 13) were able to convert that stable base completing an all-round impressive performance for the pathway side.

MATCH SUMMARY

Emerging Ireland vs West Indies Academy, 50 Over Series, Eglinton — 11 June 2024

West Indies Academy 224 (43.1 overs; Leonardo Julien 82, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 41; Cade Carmichael 2-10, Matthew Foster 2-29)

Emerging Ireland 198-4 (50 overs; Morgan Topping 66*, Scott Macbeth 42; Johann Layne 2-36, Joshua James 2-59)

Emerging Ireland won by six wickets