Keacy Carty delivered a batting masterpiece with an unbeaten 170 as West Indies crushed Ireland by 197 runs (DLS Method) in the third ODI, drawing the ODI Series one all.
Walking to the crease with West Indies in crisis at 4/1 after Brandon King’s dismissal in the first over, he transformed potential disaster into total domination with a career-defining innings that will be remembered as one of the great ODI knocks.
From the moment he arrived at the crease, Carty displayed the composure and class that mark elite batsmen. His innings was a perfect blend of classical technique and modern power-hitting, as he methodically rebuilt the West Indies innings before launching a devastating assault on the Irish bowling attack.
His heroics, combined with crucial contributions from Shai Hope (75), Justin Greaves (50) and Amir Jangoo (22), propelled West Indies to an imposing 385 for seven – their highest total of the series. The opposition’s best bowlers were Barry and Liam McCarthy but they were extremely expensive too as the former collected three for 100 and Liam had two for 93.
Chasing a revised target of 363 after rain interrupted the restart, Ireland needed early momentum but found themselves immediately under pressure against a disciplined West Indies bowling attack. Despite some spirited resistance, the target proved well beyond their reach.
Cade Carmichael top-scored with his highest score in ODI Cricket with 48, while captain Paul Stirling cracked 26 with three fours and two sixes before Jayden Seales struck. Lorcan Tucker: (29) and Andy McBrine 28 also contributed to the Irish’s lacklustre response.
Seales led the West Indies bowling attack with figures of three for 26 in 5.5 overs, consistently troubling the Irish batsmen with pace and movement. His scalps included captain Andrew Balbirnie (3), Paul Stirling (26), and Harry Tector (0).
Ireland’s chase effectively ended when they slumped from 112/4 to 159 for seven in the space of eight overs. The middle-order collapse exposed the gulf in class between the teams and highlighted the pressure created by Carty’s mammoth total.
Weather interventions resulted in the match being decided by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, but Ireland’s position at 165 for eight in 29.5 overs left no doubt about the eventual outcome. Josh Little and Jordan Neill were unable to bat due to injuries suffered in the field.
West Indies will now turn their attention to England as the two familiar rivals will prepare to face off against each other in another three-match ODI Series beginning on Thursday at Egbaston.
