West Indies 212 (44.4 overs)
Ireland 214-8 (44.5 overs)
Ireland win by two wickets
ANDY MCBRINE CLAIMED four wickets and hit a half-century as Ireland edged West Indies by two wickets to win their One-Day International series 2-1 at Sabina Park on Sunday.
McBrine took his total of wickets in the three matches to 10 as the West Indies were all out for 212 in 44.4 overs.
He then showed off his all-round talents by hitting a top score of 59 off 100 balls with six boundaries and a six.
Harry Tector also played his part in what was Ireland’s first away ODI series triumph against a fellow Test nation.
The 24-year-old finished with 52, his third successive half-century and seventh in his last 10 matches.
When McBrine departed in the 31st over, the 28-year-old all-rounder had taken Ireland to 152-3, helping his team recover from losing opener William Porterfield to the first ball of the innings to Alzarri Joseph.
McBrine’s second career half-century ended with a lazy swipe to Odean Smith which was gobbled up by Shai Hope behind the stumps.
However, Ireland, who were missing several players including regular captain Andy Balbirnie because of Covid, still had to endure a nervy finish, quickly slipping from 190-4 to 208-8 before Craig Young steered the winning boundary with 31 balls to spare.
It was a memorable series for McBrine — he also suffered concussion after being hit on the head in the first game.
After West Indies were put in, he claimed 4-28 from his 10 overs of off-spin.
The home side were 119-7 at one stage before former skipper Jason Holder (44) and Akeal Hosein (23) repaired some of the damage.
Hope top-scored with 53 off 39 balls, hitting nine fours and one six as he dominated an opening stand of 72 in 11 overs with Justin Greaves.
McBrine particularly shone when he removed Nicholas Pooran, Shamarh Brooks and skipper Kieron Pollard in quick succession to put Ireland within touch of a famous series victory.
West Indies won the first game by 24 runs before Ireland levelled the series with a five-wicket victory.
The matches form part of the qualifying path for the 2023 World Cup.
Lions need to fight fire with fire and deploy their own 6/2 bombsquad, add power to the midfield with Aki, and add flair to the back 3.
1. Vunipola
2. Cowan Dickie
3. Furlong
4. Itoje
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Beirne
7. Curry
8. Faletau
9. Murray
10. Farrell
11. Rees Zammit
12. Aki
13. Henshaw
14. Adams
15. Williams
16. Wyn Jones 17. Owens 18. Sinckler 19. Lawes 20. Henderson 21. Conan 22. Price 23. Daly
(Team given Wyn Jones is fit and Sinckler isn’t banned)
@Bruce Lee: lions need to keep the ball in Play, speed up their attack, stop boxkick and stop running straight into an organised defence that’s ready and waiting to smash them again see speed up attack.
@Chris Mc:
I think you are asking them to play rugby…. Which is a good idea…
I think Aki in back line could actually allow them to trust getting the ball to 13 and outside channels.
If you don’t get these SA running they will beat you in the arm wrestle
@Bruce Lee: Murray and Farrell will not cut it. Speed and creativity are required. That’s Price and Russell.
@Cowboy Paddy: as silly as that sounds yes to beat SA just play rugby. Measuring willies trying to smash through a SA organised defence is daft. Run, pass and take on soft shoulders with the odd offload, grubber past them and keep the pace of the game at an uncomfortable level for them.
@Bruce Lee: need to change number 1 and 2 jack done nothing wrong id also have henderson in ashead off the captain but that will never happen = WG
@Bruce Lee: AWJ shouldn’t even be on the bench, Farrell has had his chance, would start with Russell, Hamish deserves a shot too. Bundy against DA would be great. Surprised he hasn’t featured given its the king of ‘bish bosh’ who’s calling the shots.