West Indies Rally To Draw ODI Series Against Ireland

The West Indies closed out their tour of Ireland on a high, securing a dominant 197-run victory in the third One Day International to level the series 1-1. After a shameful opening match and a rain-ruined second encounter, the visitors finally delivered the kind of complete performance their supporters had been waiting for.

Keacy Carty was the standout, producing a blistering career-best 170 to anchor the West Indies’ innings. Calm under pressure and clinical in execution, his knock laid the foundation for a massive total of 385 for 7. Shai Hope provided solid support with 74, while the middle and lower order added the fireworks to push the score well out of reach.

With the batters having done their job, the bowlers responded how fans expected them to. Jayden Seales led the attack with 3 for 26, while Alzarri Joseph, Justin Greaves and Roston Chase chipped in with 1 wicket a piece. Together, they tore through the Irish top order and ensured the home side never found any momentum. Ireland were eventually bowled out for 165 in just 29.5 overs under the DLS method handing West Indies a resounding win.

This performance was a far cry from the flat and disconnected effort in the first ODI, where Ireland posted 303 for 6, led by Andy Balbirnie’s century and supported by Harry Tector and Paul Stirling. The West Indies in reply, folded for 179 in a 124-run defeat that ignited criticism and concern about focus, form, fight and team selection.

Momentum began to shift in the rain-affected second ODI. Matthew Forde stunned the cricketing world with a 16-ball fifty, equalling the world record for the fastest in ODI history which helped the West Indies to gather the massive total of 352 for 8. Unfortunately, the rain intervened before Ireland could bat, and the match ended in a no result. Still the intent was clear and the signs of life were welcomed by the windies fans regionally.

That spark turned into fire in the third match, where the Caribbean side played with purpose from ball one. Carty’s career-defining knock earned him both Player of the Match and Player of the Series accolades. Seales and Joseph backed him up with a focused and hostile bowling display. The fielding, body language, and execution were all on point, everything that was missing at the start of the tour.

It wasn’t a series win, but it wasn’t a failure either. It was a split result with two vastly different performances from the maroon side. What matters now is consistency. Starting strong, staying switched on, and making this level of performance the norm and not the exception.

The West Indies leave Dublin with questions answered and momentum regained. And if this team can build from here, the rest of the cricketing world should be paying attention.