Although there were predictions of rain in Hobart, it didn’t rain a droplet. However, it became a memorable day for Ireland and a day to forget for the West Indies. Ireland forced the two-time T20 World Cup Champions out of the ongoing tournament.
On the other side, it was a day to celebrate for the Irish team, as they were able to keep the horrors of the last world cup behind them and successfully chased the target to sail into the Super 12.
West Indies batted first after winning the toss to set the pressure through a target. However, it all backfired when they kept losing their wickets at regular intervals. Barring Brandon King, nobody even looked good.
For Ireland, the leggy Gareth Delany was the hero in bowling. To chase the target of 147, it didn’t look like a big problem for Ireland and they took a blistering start by adding 90-odd runs in the first 10 overs.
Veteran Stirling was the leader with the bat scoring an unbeaten 50 to help the team to get past the total. With Lorcan lofting, Obed McCoy inside out over covers, Ireland chased it in the 18th over. Ireland has qualified for the second round for the second time since the 2009 World Cup.
West Indies Innings
West Indies didn’t start well and lost Kyle Mayers and Johnson Charles within the powerplay in the quest of hitting big shots. It could have been the third one as well as Brandon King straight in the hands-off Simi Singh but he couldn’t hold the ball due to its speed.
The bowling was tight and the Caribbean batters couldn’t get going. Batters were hardly getting any ball to the loft. After the eighth over, the duo King and Evin Lewis did try to change their approach when King hit two fours off last-match hero Campher’s deliveries.
It seemed the two-time champions are getting back in the groove but soon Delany broke the 44-run partnership by dismissing Evin Lewis at 13. Lewis was struggling and was looking like a different batter today and he scored just 13 after taking up 18 deliveries. The Windies were 71 for 3 wickets in eleven overs now.
There wasn’t anything mention worthy in the West Indies batting but Brandon King was the only one who tried to take them into the respectable position.
King, after missing out on the Zimbabwe match due to poor health was looking seamless in this match and not rusty at all but showed no signs of rust as he seamlessly switched into hitting mode.
He started showing his intent from the first ball by hitting in the covers for a boundary. Although Irish bowlers were quite in control of the Windies’ batters, they weren’t able to control King and he played the field quite well by attacking the shorter boundaries.
King and Pooran did try to make a partnership but Ireland was back on the top again when Delany struck captain Pooran’s wicket when he tried to hit it in the sweeper covers.
It seemed like the Caribbean team didn’t even try to stay at the crease and in his third over, Delany struck for the third time. The third wicket came in the name of Rovman Powell when he tried to slog sweep Delany but could only send the ball to the midwicket fielder.
Delany was the best bowler for the team with excellent figures of 3 for 16. West indies were 112-5 after 17 overs.
In the last three over King and Odean Smith did try to give a respectable total to the two times champions. They scored 34 runs in the last three overs but still were short by 20-25 runs from the par score.
Ireland’s Innings
For Ireland, it didn’t even look like they were under any pressure. Ireland played with positive intent from the word go and both the openers Stirling and Andy Balbirnie took on the Windies’ attack quite well.
It was bizarre as Pooran didn’t give over to Holder in powerplay but to Smith and Hosein. Stirling carefully took control over Akeal Hosein and Odean Smith. Irish captain hit Smith’s first three deliveries for 4,6,4. Ireland was quickly 64 for none within 6 overs.
There was a glimmer of hope when Hosein dismissed the skipper Balbernie on 37 off 34 in the eighth over. However, Stirling and Tucker were unaffected by this dismissal and carried on with their job.
Smith did get Tucker’s wicket but nothing was going right for him today and it ended up being a no-ball. Ireland won it in the 18th over. Stirling made an unbeaten 66 and Tucker scored 45*.
Delany was declared Player of the Match for his brilliant spell.
