West Indies (96/9) beat Ireland (85/8) by 11 runs
IRELAND LET A famous victory slip through their fingers as the world champion West Indies denied them a T20 series win in Sabina Park tonight.
Inspired by some superb bowling by Alex Cusack (4-11), Phil Simmons’s side took apart the Windies middle order to set a very achievable target of 97 for the historic win.
The loss of openers Paul Stirling and William Porterfield for just 15 runs inside the first five overs dented Ireland’s challenge.
But Gary Wilson’s resilient 35 gave them a glimmer of hope until he was caught and bowled by Dwayne Bravo in the 18th over.
That left Ireland needing 25 runs off their final 14 balls but Krishanr Santokie and Bravo were in miserly form, the latter running out Cusack late on to level the two-game series at a win apiece.
The sides meet again for a one-day international on Sunday (1.30pm Irish time).
West Indies XI: Fletcher, Smith, Samuels, Simmons, DJ Bravo, Ramdin, Sammy, Russell, Narine, Santokie, Badree.
Ireland XI: Porterfield*, Stirling, Joyce, K O’Brien, Wilson, Poynter, Thompson, Sorensen, Cusack, Murtagh, Dockrell.
