FALMOUTH, Jamaica, CMC – A handy all-round performance from Darren Sammy helped West Indies to a 31-run victory over Ireland in the first of their three Jamaica Cricket Festival Twenty20 matches yesterday.
The West Indies captain struck two fours and one six in 28 not out from 15 balls to propel West Indies to a respectable 143 for eight from their allocation of 20 overs in the match at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Complex.
Sammy was one of three bowlers that collected two wickets apiece, as West Indies successfully defended the victory target, and Ireland were restricted to 112 for seven from their 20 overs.
Sulieman Benn was the pick of the West Indies’ bowlers’ with two for 12 from his allotment of four overs, Sammy supported with two for 15 from three overs, and Ravi Rampaul took two for 19 from four overs.
Rampaul gave West Indies an early breakthrough, when he had opener William Porterfield caught behind for a duck.
Benn bowled Niall O’Brien and had Gary Wilson stumped – both batsmen going for three – to send Ireland crashing to nine for three in the fourth over.
Though West Indies faced the defiance from Paul Stirling with 25 from 35 balls, and Trent Johnston, the former Irish captain, hit 28 from 20 balls, the result was never in question.
Sammy bowled Andrew White for 15, and trapped Kevin O’Brien lbw for two to leave Ireland 48 for five in 11th over, and the visitors chose to bat through the remaining overs to add some respectability to the total.
Earlier, West Indies too, ran into trouble, when they slipped to 41 for four in the 10th over, but a stand of 51 between left-handers Narsingh Deonarine and Wavell Hinds got them back on track.
Deonarine lashed one four and three sixes in the top score of 40 from 32 balls to earn the Man-of-the-Match award, and Hinds made 21 from 26 balls.
When both were removed to leave West Indies 92 for six, Sammy came with his late flourish in the last five overs to add some beef to the total.
Johnston was the pick of the Irish bowlers with two for 19 from four overs.
The Festival concludes with a One-day International between West Indies and Ireland on Thursday at Sabina Park in Kingston.
The ground in the Jamaica capital will also be the venue for two more Twenty20 Internationals between the two sides next Saturday and Sunday.
