Eire registered a record-breaking 124-run victory over the West Indies within the opening ODI of the three-match sequence on Wednesday, Might 21, at The Village in Dublin. Opting to bat first after dropping the toss, the hosts piled up a formidable 303/6 of their 50 overs. In response, the West Indies collapsed for simply 179 in 34.1 overs, with Barry McCarthy starring with the ball, claiming a formidable 4/32 in 7.1 overs. This win marked Eire’s third consecutive ODI conquer the West Indies, following their historic 2-1 sequence win in 2022. It additionally stands as simply their fourth general victory in opposition to the Caribbean facet in ODI historical past.
Andrew Balbirnie’s captain’s knock for Eire
After being put into bat by West Indies in overcast Dublin situations, Eire made probably the most of a strong opening stand between skipper Paul Stirling and veteran Andrew Balbirnie. The duo stitched collectively a fluent 109-run partnership for the primary wicket, navigating the early swing and setting a steady platform. Stirling appeared in glorious contact, scoring 54 off 64 balls with six fours and two sixes, whereas Balbirnie took a extra measured strategy.
Their partnership annoyed the West Indian bowlers, who struggled to extract a lot motion or bounce from the floor. Stirling’s dismissal within the twenty third over by Roston Chase didn’t gradual Eire down, as Balbirnie held one finish agency and anchored the innings. Cade Carmichael, on his ODI debut, added 16, whereas Harry Tector launched a blistering counterattack later within the innings, scoring 56 off 51 balls. Balbirnie’s century, a affected person and calculated knock of 112 off 138 deliveries laced with 9 boundaries and 4 sixes, turned the spine of Eire’s innings. He was ultimately dismissed within the forty fourth over, however by then Eire had been properly on their method to a formidable complete. Regardless of some fast wickets in the previous couple of overs, Eire managed to submit a formidable 303/6 in 50 overs, their third-highest ODI complete in opposition to a full member nation.
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West Indies’ batting collapse underneath strain
Chasing 304 on a good batting pitch, West Indies suffered a catastrophic top-order collapse that derailed their innings from the outset. Eire’s bowlers got here out firing, particularly McCarthy, who dismissed three of the highest 5 inside his first 4 overs. Evin Lewis was run out for simply 2 runs, and by the point Brandon King (19), Shai Hope (2), and Amir Jangoo (0) had been again within the hut, the West Indies had been reeling at 31/5 inside 10 overs. The guests by no means really recovered from that early injury.
Justin Greaves provided some resistance with a quickfire 35 off 17 balls, together with seven boundaries, however his wicket solely deepened the disaster. Roston Chase tried to mount a rescue operation with a gritty 55 off 76 deliveries, supported briefly by Matthew Forde, who contributed 38. Nonetheless, their 98-run partnership for the seventh wicket merely delayed the inevitable. As soon as Chase fell within the thirty second over, the tail folded swiftly, and West Indies had been bundled out for 179 in simply 34.1 overs, dropping the match by an enormous margin of 124 runs.
Chase and Forde led a minor restoration however in the end West Indies had been outplayed at the moment
Massive restoration wanted in 48 hours
— Caribbean Cricket Podcast (@CaribCricket) Might 21, 2025
Barry McCarthy headlines a deadly Eire bowling efficiency
Eire’s bowlers, led by the ever-reliable McCarthy, delivered a scientific efficiency with the ball. McCarthy, with figures of 4/32 in 7.1 overs, was unplayable throughout his opening burst. His management over line and size, mixed with refined motion off the pitch, accounted for 3 key top-order wickets that dismantled the West Indies’ chase early on. Debutant Thomas Mayes additionally impressed together with his economical spell and picked up the large wicket of Hope. George Dockrell, although costly, made essential breakthroughs later within the innings, ending with 3 wickets in simply 2 overs and snuffing out any hopes of a lower-order revival. Josh Little and Liam McCarthy supported the assault with tidy spells, sustaining strain from each ends. Eire’s fielding was equally sharp, exemplified by Tector’s direct-hit run-out of Lewis, which set the tone for the collapse.
Complete win for Eire over the West Indies at the moment in Dublin. The hosts racked up 303, then diminished their Caribbean rivals to 31 for five earlier than ultimately dismissing them for 179. It could have been nice if this was a tri-series with Scotland, however no!
— Neil Drysdale (@NeilDrysdale) Might 21, 2025
Barry McCarthy picks 4 wickets as Eire beat West Indies by 124 runs: https://t.co/Q9NOH8Ib72#IREvWI #ODI #cricket pic.twitter.com/eKiomwnrWh
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) Might 21, 2025
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