WI beat IRE by 5 wickets | West Indies vs Ireland, Highlights And Cricket Score 1st ODI Match

Right-o! 1-0 to the ever improving West Indian side under an inspiring Kieron Pollard. Ireland do not have much time for a turnaround, as they have to get ready for the second ODI by Thursday, 9th January, which will be played at this same venue. The game begins at 1.30 pm local (1730 GMT). Do join us. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

ALZARRI JOSEPH HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. Feels that this has been a very good start for him in 2020 and he wants to stay focussed and build on this. Praises his coach Winston Benjamin and everyone else in the coaching staff to advice him whenever he had questions. On his bowling in this game, Joseph says that he just stuck to his plans and bowled accordingly. On his comeback from injury, Alzarri puts it down to the support from his team's staff.

Earlier in the day, the West Indies showed excellent bowling skills as they dismantled the Irish for a below-par 180. Alzarri Joseph used the pace and bounce on the track to his advantage and took 4 wickets, running through the visitors.

Ireland could not have much with the ball in this game. They needed early wickets and they did get one, in the form of Shai Hope but could not quite build on it. Simi Singh created a bit of a stir by taking 2 wickets in 2 overs but nothing apart from that.

In fact, in the entire innings, only Lewis played well. The others just played around him. He has scored more than 50 percent of the runs and the hosts needed just one good partnership. That they got, in the form of the 71-run stand for the second wicket between Lewis and King. That more or less sealed the chase. Yes, there was a bit of a collapse after that, as Windies blindly threw their wickets away but Evin Lewis ensured that he carried his bat through to win his team the game. Towards the end, he ran short of runs to get to his century but he will be satisfied with the way he played here.

So West Indies approached the chase of 181 as one should, when approaching a mediocre total. It was not a very low total, nor a very high one. It was one of those in-betweens, where teams often struggle to pace their innings. But not this West Indian team. Evin Lewis came out all guns firing and kept the chase well in control.

Lewis is on his haunches. Bitterly disappointed. The dressing room of the West Indies has its hands on its head. So near, yet so far. Kieron Pollard now walks across slowly to pat him on his back. Now, Lewis smiles.

Barry McCarthy to Evin Lewis. FOUR! Lewis finishes it in style but cannot get to his hundred. Full delivery on off, Lewis lofts it over covers for a boundary. WEST INDIES WIN THE FIRST ODI BY 5 WICKETS!

Barry McCarthy to Evin Lewis. Full delivery on off, Lewis drives it through point. The batsmen get two runs. He moves to 95. Can he get a hundred? West Indies need only 1 run to win the match.

Boyd Rankin to Kieron Pollard. On a good length on off, Pollard comes forward and blocks it.

Boyd Rankin to Roston Chase. OUT! CAUGHT! Roston Chase departs when West Indies needed only 3 runs to win. Short and outside off, Chase looks to leave the ball but plays it at the last moment due to the extra bounce on this one. He gets a faint knick and it goes towards the keeper where Lorcan Tucker takes a comfortable catch behind the stumps.

Boyd Rankin to Roston Chase. On a length on middle, Chase flicks it to mid-wicket.

Boyd Rankin to Roston Chase. Length delivery on middle, Roston nudges it to mid-wicket.

Boyd Rankin to Roston Chase. On a length on off, Chase guides it to short third man.

Boyd Rankin to Roston Chase. Bowls a bouncer outside off, Chase sways away from it.

Barry McCarthy to Evin Lewis. On a length on off, Lewis taps it to point.

Barry McCarthy to Roston Chase. Length delivery outside off, Chase guides it towards third man for a run. The hosts need just 3 runs to win the match.

Barry McCarthy to Roston Chase. FOUR! Oh dear... that just kills all hopes for Evin Lewis to score a century! Classic shot though. Full and outside off, Chase leans drives it through covers for a boundary. So that makes it 4 to win now, with Lewis stranded on 93.

Barry McCarthy to Roston Chase. Bowls a bouncer outside off, Chase sways away from it.

Barry McCarthy to Roston Chase. WIDE! Full and down the leg side, Chase looks to flick but misses it.