In a high-scoring encounter, West Indies defeated Ireland by 62 runs to clinch the three-match T20I series 1-0 after the first two matches were washed out due to rain.
Chasing a daunting target of 257, Ireland could only manage 194 for 7 in their 20 overs in the third and final T20I at Bready on Sunday. What followed the earlier washouts was a “rain of boundaries,” giving fans the entertainment they had been hoping for.
West Indies’ innings was powered by a stunning knock from opener Evin Lewis, who smashed 91 off 44 balls, including eight sixes and seven fours, helping the team post their second-highest T20I total.
The Caribbean side hit 20 fours and 20 sixes in the innings — a feat they’ve only bettered once in T20Is. Remarkably, they scored 200 runs purely through boundaries — the first time they’ve reached that figure in the format without running between the wickets.
Ireland’s reply also featured some fireworks — 11 sixes and 14 fours — but no batter managed to reach a half-century.
After losing the toss, West Indies were sent in to bat. However, Ireland’s decision to bowl first quickly backfired as Shai Hope and Lewis dominated from the outset. The openers brought up the team’s fifty by the first ball of the fifth over and reached 70 by the end of the Powerplay. Lewis reached his fifty in just 29 balls, while Hope got to his in 23.
The duo added 122 runs for the opening stand before Hope fell for 51 off 27 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes. Lewis looked set for a century but was dismissed for 91, also by Matthew Humphreys, who was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 16 in 4 overs — an impressive return in a game dominated by batters.
Shimron Hetmyer chipped in with 15, while debutant Keacy Carty finished unbeaten on 49 off 22, including four sixes and four fours. Romario Shepherd added late fireworks with 19 off 6.
Liam McCarthy had a debut to forget, conceding 81 runs in 4 overs, making it the most expensive spell ever by an Irish bowler in T20Is, and the second-worst overall in all T20I cricket.
In response, Ireland’s chase began brightly but soon lost momentum. Paul Stirling hit three boundaries in the first over but was dismissed early. Harry Tector (38) and Ross Adair (48 off 36) added 101 for the second wicket, but once they fell — both within four deliveries in the 12th over — the innings unraveled.
Roston Chase broke the century stand, and Akeal Hosein then removed both Adair and Lorcan Tucker (1) in quick succession. Ireland never recovered from losing three wickets in the space of two overs.
Mark Adair provided some late hitting with 31 off 14* (four sixes), but the result was never in doubt.
Akeal Hosein was West Indies’ most successful bowler, taking 3 for 27, while Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd chipped in with wickets.
Match Summary
- West Indies – 256/5 in 20 overs (Lewis 91, Hope 51, Carty 49*; Humphreys 2/16)
- Ireland – 194/7 in 20 overs (Ross Adair 48, Tector 38; Akeal 3/27, Holder 2/49)
Result: West Indies won by 62 runs
Series Result: West Indies won the 3-match series 1–0
Player of the Match: Evin Lewis
