BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Hayden Walsh Jr., said he used the 10th anniversary of his father’s death to inspire him late Thursday, as he produced a gutsy performance to help West Indies win a nail-biter against Ireland.
Recalling “nerve-wracking” moments in the final over when West Indies survived two run out chances to pull off a one-wicket victory with a ball to spare in the second One-Day International, Walsh said the memory of his father, Hayden Walsh Sr., had played a key role in his crucial unbeaten 46.
Walsh sr, who played 18 first class games for Leeward Islands, died on January 9, 2010.
“I got the inspiration today … today marks the 10th anniversary of my father’s death and I got that inspiration today to actually take the team over the line,” Walsh Jr., told reporters afterwards.
“He taught me everything I know in cricket. Many people know he was a very good cricketer and this was part of our dream for me to represent the West Indies and win matches for the people of the West Indies.”
West Indies appeared poised for defeat after slumping to 148 for seven in the 29th over, in pursuit of a straightforward 238 for victory at Kensington Oval.
But the 27-year-old Walsh jr came to his side’s rescue in a 67-ball knock which included four fours, adding 52 for the eighth wicket with Khary Pierre (18) and 32 for the ninth with Alzarri Joseph (16) before holding his nerve with last man Sheldon Cottrell, who finished on seven not out.
Requiring five runs from the last over, Cottrell was twice let off as Ireland bungled clear run out chances. The former soldier than blasted the penultimate delivery of the match from seamer Mark Adair over extra cover for six, to earn West Indies a dramatic win.
“It was nerve-wracking. I went down to Sheldon and [he said he wasn’t in] but he thinks that the guy (Adair) dropped the ball so he was a little bit more confident on that one,” Walsh jr said of the first run out.
“The last one (run out), I didn’t expect him (Cottrell) to come back for [the second run] because the [fielder] actually had the ball in his hands so I didn’t want to take any unwanted risks and lose a wicket.”
He added: “I also backed Sheldon to do a part – I wasn’t really looking to get the strike unless it was the last ball or so. I was hoping that he would get a single or we could scramble one and I could face the last ball.”
Walsh Jr., in only his second ODI for West Indies and seventh overall, said the effort had taken a lot out of him.
“It was just a bit overwhelming. I was talking myself through the whole innings to get over the line. It was just like a long journey. [It] felt like I ran a whole marathon.”
