West Indies posts 256-5 & beats Ireland by 62 Runs to Seal T20 Series Victory

IRELAND, 16 JUNE: The West Indies delivered a dominant performance with both bat and ball to defeat Ireland by 62 runs and claim the three-match T20I series 1-0 at the Bready Cricket Club on Sunday. The final match served as a series decider after the first two encounters were washed out due to persistent rain.
Opting to bat first after being sent in, the West Indies posted a mammoth total of 256/5, their second-highest total in T20 international history. The Caribbean side was powered by a blistering opening partnership between Evin Lewis and captain Shai Hope, who laid the perfect foundation with a stand of 122 runs in just 10.3 overs.
Lewis was the star of the innings, smashing a scintillating 91 off just 44 balls, which included eight towering sixes and nine fours. Hope was equally aggressive, scoring 51 runs in just 27 balls, laced with four sixes and four boundaries, showcasing his leadership with the bat. Their partnership set the tone for a batting onslaught that Ireland’s bowlers struggled to contain.
Keacy Carty provided the finishing touches to the innings, remaining unbeaten on 49 off 22 deliveries, with four sixes of his own. In total, the West Indies batters launched 20 sixes, sending a clear message about their aggressive intent and dominance with the bat.
Chasing a daunting 257, Ireland started well and at one point looked to be in contention, reaching 114/1, thanks to a solid opening effort from Ross Adair (48 off 36) and Harry Tector (38 off 25). However, a sudden middle-order collapse saw them slump to 116/4 by the 12th over, effectively derailing their chase.
Despite a few late cameos, the target proved too steep. Ireland finished at 194/7, 62 runs short of the required mark. The West Indies bowling unit held its nerve and bowled with discipline in the latter half of the innings, capitalizing on Ireland’s faltering momentum.
With this win, the West Indies claimed the series 1-0. The series was truncated after the first two matches were washed out due to rain, but the final game offered a thrilling contest for fans.
“Nice to take something back to the Caribbean,” said Shai Hope after the match, expressing satisfaction over the team’s performance in foreign conditions.
The series win offers a morale boost for the West Indies after a disappointing tour of England in May, where they were whitewashed 3-0 in both the ODI and T20 series.
The Caribbean side will now gear up to host Australia in a multi-format home series, starting with a three-Test series commencing on June 25 in Barbados. The tour will also feature a five-match T20I series. Australia, meanwhile, are coming off a defeat in the World Test Championship Final against South Africa and will be looking to bounce back.
With this emphatic victory, West Indies have found much-needed momentum as they look ahead to tougher assignments in the coming weeks.
West Indies’ emphatic win over Ireland not only sealed the T20I series but also marked a return to form for the Caribbean side. With explosive batting and disciplined bowling, they valuable momentum ahead of their upcoming home series against Australia.