Carty’s Calm, Forde’s Fire

Asked to bat first under cloudy skies, West Indies started with intent. Brandon King and Evin Lewis opened with crisp strokes through the off side, but Ireland struck back quickly. Barry McCarthy, continuing his fine form from the first ODI, got King with a faint edge, while Josh Little removed Lewis with a well-placed delivery first up.

That brought Shai Hope and Keacy Carty together, and the duo stitched a stabilizing 81-run partnership. Hope looked fluent, anchoring the innings with elegant strokes and even lofted Andy McBrine for the first six of the game. But just one run short of his half-century, Hope fell to Liam McCarthy, who celebrated his maiden international wicket.

From there, it was all about Carty’s steady rise. Starting cautiously, he reached his fifty in 67 balls, and then began to accelerate. He found a reliable partner in Amir Jangoo, who rotated strike efficiently, allowing Carty to dominate. Carty’s knock was all about maturity—measured risk, smart placement, and solid temperament. He eventually reached his second ODI hundred, a crucial milestone in his young career.

Then Came Forde, Fast and Fearless

If Carty provided the calm, Matthew Forde brought the storm. He walked in late but didn’t waste time, slamming a record-equalling fifty off just 18 balls, matching AB de Villiers’ iconic mark. His innings was a whirlwind of boundaries and sixes, turning a strong total into a mammoth one in a flash.

But Then… Rain Took Over

Unfortunately, as the West Indies innings ended, so did the game. Rain swept in before Ireland could even begin their chase, leading to an official no result. A tough blow for both teams—West Indies couldn’t cash in on their big total, and Ireland didn’t get the chance to respond.

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