Ireland defeat World T20 Champs West Indies in Sabina Park

A composed 40-not-out from Ed Joyce saw Ireland defeat the reigning World T20 champions the West Indies at Sabina Park in Jamaica. No strangers to an upset at this particular venue, the boys in green successfully chased down 117 with three balls to spare to give them only the second competitive win of their tour but it will without doubt be the most important.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle chose to bat after winning the toss and he strode out to the crease with his opening partner Dwayne Smith. Both have been known for their devastating batting in all three formats of the game and it showed as they both raced out of the blocks peppering the Ireland bowlers to the boundary as they raced to 30 inside the first five overs.

Tim Murtagh was brought into the attack to try and stem this attack and as has happened many times in the past, the fast bowler struck as he managed to get Dwayne Smith to hit it straight to Max Sorensen and not shortly after Chris Gayle was on his way back to the pavilion too as he tried to hit George Dockrell into the stand but only managed to find Alex Cusack at long on who made no mistake.

The removal of these two big hitters meant the West Indies batsmen were strangled and boundaries were hard to come by. The Irish bowlers began to control the contest and continued to do so for the rest of the innings. Wickets fell at regular intervals which meant nobody could settle at the crease and form a partnership. The Windies limped to 116/8 off their 20 overs which must have given Phil Simmonds and his side a real confidence boost.

This may have been dented at the start, however. Within the first two overs William Porterfield had been trapped LBW and Paul Sterling had hit straight to mid-wicket as the tourists were 8/2 and looked as if they were going to make their class tell.

This was about as good as it got them, though. Gary Wilson, in at number 4 and Ed Joyce put on 29 for the 3^rd wicket as the innings began to be reconstructed. They both seen the powerplay out until Wilson charged down the track at Badree but was bowled and it brought Andrew Poynter to the crease.

This partnership proved to be the match winner as both players put on 58. Not many risks were taken, both players were calm and just poked the ball into the gaps and taking 1’s and 2’s knowing that not any risks needed to be taken.

Poynter eventually went with Ireland on 95 and still needing 22 to win but it didn’t derail them. This finally brought big hitter Kevin O’Brien to the crease as him and Joyce brought their team to the finish line.

And it was Kevin O’Brien, the hero against England in Mumbai, who played a short ball off his hip into the legside for two runs to give his side the win.