West Indies Dominate with the Bat at Clontarf
Cricket fans expecting drama at Clontarf Cricket Club got more than they bargained for, though not the kind they had in mind. Ireland won the toss and put West Indies in to bat during the second ODI. It looked like a bold call, but the visitors quickly made them pay, amassing a hefty 352 for 8 in just 50 overs. The real fireworks came from Keacy Carty, who hit his second ODI century, reaching 113 in style. If that wasn’t enough, Matthew Forde stormed to a 58 off just 18 balls, smashing his way to the joint-fastest ODI fifty for West Indies.
This onslaught was set up by a solid middle order. Shai Hope played a captain’s knock with 43, anchoring the innings through tricky spells. Later, Roston Chase chipped in with a calm 33, helping the West Indies maintain momentum before the late-innings mayhem. In the last 10 overs, it was a wild ride—Forde and his partner Kavem Hodge tore into the bowling, piling on 125 runs and ensuring the scoreboard looked intimidating for the Irish side.
Irish Bowlers Fight but Rain Wins
Ireland’s bowlers certainly felt the heat. Liam McCarthy led the charge and picked up 3 for 66, doing the heavy lifting as West Indies pushed the tempo. Barry McCarthy and Josh Little showed some fight, grabbing two wickets apiece, but they were made to work for every breakthrough as the batting just refused to slow down. Bowling at the death against hitters in this mood was always going to be a slog.
Just when everyone settled in for a high-pressure chase, the Dublin skies decided otherwise. Rain showed up, and it stuck around. Fans watched, hoping the covers would come off, but the pitch stayed blanketed and soggy. Only 47.4 overs of the first innings could be completed before the officials called it off, saving the Irish batters a daunting run chase but leaving the crowd gutted.
The series balance remains with West Indies 1-0 up. Fans now have their eyes on the finale, scheduled right back at Clontarf on May 25, hoping the weather behaves so we actually see a result this time around.
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