Jamaica defeat Ireland by six wickets

A six wicket defeat at the hands of Jamaica in Trinidad condemned Ireland to elimination from the Nagico Super50 after just two games. Following on from their defeat to Guyana on Friday, it was imperative that Phil Simmonds team beat a strong Jamaica side, which contained several West Indian international players, to have any chance of reaching the semi final stage.

After winning the toss, Ireland skipper William Porterfield decided that the best decision on this pitch was to bat first and set a total for the opposition. That decision seemed to be the right one as he and Niall O’Brien put on 50 for the opening 50 before Porterfield chased a wide delivery outside his off-stump and edged it through to the wicketkeeper.

Alex Cusack was the next man in and the tourists continued to go at the same pace. However, this pace was sluggish and that proved to be their downfall in posting a competitive score. Only one wicket fell in the next 15 overs, when O’Brien was trapped in front of his stumps by Tamar Lambert. But only 50 runs had been put on the board and it was up to players like Kevin O’Brien to salvage the innings.

Which ultimately they could not do. Wickets began to fall at a rapid pace. Andre Russell, who has previously played Test Cricket for his nation bamboozled the Irish batsmen with his fast bowling and the class told as he took two wickets in an over to leave the Irish in a perilous position. Kevin O’Brien then held out to point on the brink of the batting Powerplay for 8 which exposed the tail who could only get the side to 161.

To stay in the competition Ireland would have to produce something special with the ball. Tim Murtagh and Max Sorensen both took a wicket apiece in the first 10 overs to give their side a fighting chance of an unlikely victory.

Poor fielding and a magnificent 70 from John Campbell put pay to it though. Campbell and Ireland’s tormentor from their innings, Tamar Lambert put on a brilliant half century stand, in which they rotated the strike brilliantly by taking singles, something which Ireland failed to do and it essentially won their side the game.

Lambert was dropped twice in the deep which would have given the Irish bowlers a boost had they been taken. It was third time lucky though and he was caught at mid on shortly after Campbell had his off stump bowled by Murtagh. Man of the match Andre Russell finished the contest with two sixes and secured his sides passage into the semi finals.

Ireland will now face a final dead rubber against the Windward Islands on Friday. 

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