Brooks, bowlers shine as West Indies get over the line in ODI opener
Published:Sunday | January 9, 2022 | 12:14 AMLennox Aldred - Gleaner Writer
IT WASN’T the most clinical performance, but the West Indies managed to come away with a 24-run win over Ireland in the first of three One-Day Internationals (ODI) at Sabina Park.
The regional first had to dig deep on a difficult wicket for batting to post 269 all out in 48.5 overs, thanks to a brilliant debut 93 from Man-of-the-Match Shamarh Brooks, and 69 from captain Kieron Pollard against three wickets each for Mark Adair and Craig Young.
The seam duo of Alzzari Joseph and Romario Shepherd then bagged three wickets each to restrict Ireland to 245 all out in 49.1 overs, despite a fighting 71 from captain Andy Balbernie and 53 from Harry Tector.
Runs came at a premium for both sides as, earlier, the West Indies struggled in the morning session and were at one stage in a spot of bother at 62 for four in the 19th over.
The precarious position was brought about by some excellent bowling from the Irish side, who stifled the top-order Windies batters until Brooks and Pollard got stuck in, posting a record 155-run fifth-wicket partnership at Sabina Park.
Pollard would eventually fall for a well-played 69 from 66 balls, with four fours and four sixes, while Brooks, who got a life in the 90s, did not capitalise, and was the sixth wicket to fall for a brilliant 93 from 89 balls with nine fours and three sixes.
RUNS HARD TO COME BY
It was a similar situation when Ireland replied, as they, too, found runs hard to come by, though the wicket had gotten better for batting.
After losing opener William Porterfield to Akeal Hosein without scoring, Balbernie and Andy McBrine clawed their way to 62 in the 17th over, before the latter had to retire hurt on 34 after being hit in the head by a bouncer from debutant Odean Smith.
Tector then joined Balbernie and they added 103 for the third wicket. But when Shepherd got Balbernie for 71 and Smith took care of Tector for 53, Ireland’s run chase fizzled out and, in the end, George Dockrell’s 30 from 25 balls and Mark Adair’s 21 not out from nine balls wasn’t enough
Smith, who took the last wicket to fall, ended with figures of two for 26 from 5.1 overs.