Ireland registered a record-breaking 124-run victory over the West Indies in the opening ODI of the three-match series on Wednesday, May 21, at The Village in Dublin. Opting to bat first after losing the toss, the hosts piled up a formidable 303/6 in their 50 overs. In response, the West Indies collapsed for just 179 in 34.1 overs, with Barry McCarthy starring with the ball, claiming an impressive 4/32 in 7.1 overs. This win marked Ireland’s third consecutive ODI triumph over the West Indies, following their historic 2-1 series win in 2022. It also stands as just their fourth overall victory against the Caribbean side in ODI history.

Andrew Balbirnie’s captain’s knock for Ireland

After being put into bat by West Indies in overcast Dublin conditions, Ireland made the most of a solid opening stand between skipper Paul Stirling and veteran Andrew Balbirnie. The duo stitched together a fluent 109-run partnership for the first wicket, navigating the early swing and setting a stable platform. Stirling looked in excellent touch, scoring 54 off 64 balls with six fours and two sixes, while Balbirnie took a more measured approach.

Their partnership frustrated the West Indian bowlers, who struggled to extract much movement or bounce from the surface. Stirling’s dismissal in the 23rd over by Roston Chase didn’t slow Ireland down, as Balbirnie held one end firm and anchored the innings. Cade Carmichaelon his ODI debut, added 16, while Harry Tector launched a blistering counterattack later in the innings, scoring 56 off 51 balls. Balbirnie’s century, a patient and calculated knock of 112 off 138 deliveries laced with 9 boundaries and 4 sixes, became the backbone of Ireland’s innings. He was eventually dismissed in the 44th over, but by then Ireland were well on their way to a formidable total. Despite some quick wickets in the last few overs, Ireland managed to post an impressive 303/6 in 50 overs, their third-highest ODI total against a full member nation.

West Indies’ batting collapse under pressure

Chasing 304 on a decent batting pitch, West Indies suffered a catastrophic top-order collapse that derailed their innings from the outset. Ireland’s bowlers came out firing, especially McCarthy, who dismissed three of the top five within his first four overs. Evin Lewis was run out for just 2 runs, and by the time Brandon King (19), Shai Hope (2), and Amir Jangoo (0) were back in the hut, the West Indies were reeling at 31/5 inside 10 overs. The visitors never truly recovered from that early damage.

Justin Greaves offered some resistance with a quickfire 35 off 17 balls, including seven boundaries, but his wicket only deepened the crisis. Roston Chase tried to mount a rescue operation with a gritty 55 off 76 deliveries, supported briefly by Matthew Fordewho contributed 38. However, their 98-run partnership for the seventh wicket merely delayed the inevitable. Once Chase fell in the 32nd over, the tail folded swiftly, and West Indies were bundled out for 179 in just 34.1 overs, losing the match by a massive margin of 124 runs.

Barry McCarthy headlines a lethal Ireland bowling performance

Ireland’s bowlers, led by the ever-reliable McCarthy, delivered a clinical performance with the ball. McCarthy, with figures of 4/32 in 7.1 overs, was unplayable during his opening burst. His control over line and length, combined with subtle movement off the pitch, accounted for three key top-order wickets that dismantled the West Indies’ chase early on. Debutant Thomas Mayes also impressed with his economical spell and picked up the big wicket of Hope. George Dockrellthough expensive, made crucial breakthroughs later in the innings, finishing with 3 wickets in just 2 overs and snuffing out any hopes of a lower-order revival. Josh Little and Liam McCarthy supported the attack with tidy spells, maintaining pressure from both ends. Ireland’s fielding was equally sharp, exemplified by Tector’s direct-hit run-out of Lewis, which set the tone for the collapse.