IRE vs WI 2nd ODI, IRE vs WI 2022

And with that Ireland win this game with 21 balls left (DLS). They take a crucial 10 points from this match in the CWC Super League. The series is nicely set for a decider on Sunday. For now, it's 1-1. They were at 157/4 after 31.2 overs that's when the rain hits the ground hard. After this, it was a fair amount of delay. Just 10 minutes before cut off the match resumed and the target was 168 in 36 overs. After resumption, Dockrell was trying to finish the game early but fell to Pollard. Tector and Delany finished things quickly thereafter.

Ireland win by 5 wickets via the DLS method, they take this home, a thoroughly deserved victory for them. They have surely been the better team today and have outplayed the West Indies in all three departments. Quickstarts by the opening pair of Porterfield and Paul Stirling. By the end of the batting powerplay, Ireland lost two wickets but was well ahead of the game with 60 on the board. Post that it was Andy McBrine and Harry Tector who led them beautifully through the middle overs. The pair rotated the strike and collected the odd boundary at regular intervals. Tector was unbeaten on 54*.

McBrine in particular targeted Akeil Hosein and struck some crucial blows to deflate the opposition. The southpaw looked brilliant before hooking one straight down the throat of Alzarri Joseph at fine leg. McBrine scored a valuable 35.

Any hopes of a comeback were stalled by Harry Tector who took the charge after that, leading his team to a comfortable position of 157 for 4 before rain interrupted the play. It just prolonged West Indies misery as Ireland was well ahead of the DLS par score and only needed 73 with almost twenty overs to go.

Earlier in the day, Ireland was criticized for giving away too many extras, 27 wides to be exact, and not without good cause. That was papered over by an excellent bowling effort, Craig Young ran through the West Indian top order and any hopes of resurrecting the innings through Pollard were shunned by Andy McBrine. 

The Home side was reduced to 111 for 7 before Odean Smith switched to T20 mode and unleashed a barrage of sixes. Smith combined with Ramiro Shepherd to add 58 runs for the ninth wicket. Courtesy of that Windies finished with 229 on the board but that was always below par.

The bowling effort was followed by a clinical batting performance and Ireland level the series with one apiece. They will take a lot of positives and confidence from this effort, and will return here on Sunday for the series decider with their tails up.