Whitewash - Lewis smashes century as Windies pull off ODI clean sweep against Ireland

A third One Day International (ODI) century from opener Evin Lewis guided the Windies to a five-wicket win over Ireland under the Duckworth-Lewis method in Grenada and a 3-0 series win.

Man of the Match Lewis struck six fours and five sixes to score 102, as the Windies, set a target of 197, reached 199 for 5 in 36 overs and two deliveries. Earlier, leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr bagged 4 for 36, and Oshane Thomas 3 for 41, to restrict the Irish to 203 all out in 49 overs and a ball.

It was the first ODI series sweep for the home side since they beat Bangladesh back in 2014, as the sides now turn their attention to the T20 series, which starts on Wednesday.

After winning the toss, the Windies asked Ireland to take first strike and pacer Oshane Thomas, who came into the side for the rested Sheldon Cottrell, pegged back the Irish with two quick wickets at the top of the Innings.

He removed both openers, with Paul Stirling going first, caught behind for five, then James McCollom was brilliantly caught at cover by Lewis for 20, to leave the visitors 33 for two in the 10th over.

Walsh, who starred with the bat in the second ODI, came up trumps with the ball this time, as he picked up wickets at regular intervals to rip through the Ireland middle to lower order.

One of those wickets was a beauty of a googly which spun and hit the top of Lorcan Tuckers, off stump, as the St Croix native finished with match figures of 4 for 36 from his 10 overs.

Captain Andrew Balbirnie was resolute with the bat as his defiant 71 from 93 balls spruced up the Ireland innings to get to 203.

With the series already in the bag, the Windies batters were looking to go about the run chase freely; however, Shai Hope failed once again, as he went lbw to Barry McCarthy for six.

Sunil Ambris, who came in for ShimronHetmyer, didn’t last long either, as he was caught behind off the impressive Simi Singh for six.

Lewis found a useful partner in Brandon King and the pair put on 75 runs for the third wicket. However, King fell for a well-played 38 with the score on 129 in the 23rd over.

UNHINDERED

A few stop-starts because of rain didn’t slow the momentum of Lewis, who continued to bat positively, along with Nicholas Pooran, as they shared in a 63-run, fourth-wicket stand to take the home side closer to victory.

Just when Lewis brought up his century with a boundary, the left-hander went for a big shot to finish the match; however, he held out to long-off with the Windies still needing five runs to win.

Pooran would do the honour to finish the match with a boundary to be not out on 43, as the Windies eased to the DL target of 199 for the loss of five wickets.

Man of the Series Lewis says things are coming together nicely at the right time.

“All the hard work in the nets has been paying off,” he said. “I had never scored a hundred in the Caribbean, as my last ­hundred was in 2017, and I’m determined to get more runs this year.”