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The absence of skipper Chris Gayle and lead spinner Sulieman Benn was not felt by the West Indies, as the hosts crushed minnows Ireland by 70 runs on the opening day of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in Guyana.

Batting first the hosts made a rather ordinary 138/9 against an Irish attack ably led by 17-year old left-arm spinning prodigy George Dockrell, and well supported by Andre Botha and Alex Cusack. A vital innings of 30 from just 17 balls from man-of-the-match Darren Sammy rescued the West Indian innings from 93 for 6 to enable them to post a par score on a slow track. In reply, the Ireland innings was a catastrophe, and if it hadn't been for 19 extras may have been an even bigger one. Sammy completed a perfect day by routing the tail after Ravi Rampaul had done the damage at the top of the order, well assisted by Kemar Roach and skipper for the day Dwayne Bravo.

Andre Fletcher and veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul opened the innings for the hosts after Bravo had won the toss and elected to make first use of a slowing pitch. Chanderpaul had made 14 including a couple of hits to the fence before hitting a Boyd Rankin delivery across the line and edging it to the fielder at cover to leave the hosts at 19-1 in 3 overs. Dwayne Bravo and Fletcher made the most of the powerplay overs, with the former hitting a couple of sixes before falling to an excellent return catch by Cusack in the 6th over.

His replacement Ramnaresh Sarwan looked to play intelligent cricket, knocking the ball into the gaps and picking up the singles on offer, but the fall of his wicket two balls after Fletcher (19) sent the Windies batting into a downward spiral as they lost 4 wickets for 16 runs.

Darren Sammy and Kieron Pollard, batting ridiculously low at no.8, rescued the innings somewhat, taking the score to some semblance of respectability. Ireland on their part could have been delighted with half the job well done and would have considered themselves in with a chance of pulling off an upset.

Irish skipper William Porterfield came out to face the music, and edged the first ball of the innings past the slips for four. He was not quite so lucky on ball 2 as Kemar Roach once again found the outside edge, and Darren Sammy took a great catch at second slip. The nightmare had sadly just begun for the visitors as Ravi Rampaul removed Paul Stirling and Niall O'Brien within the space of three balls in the 2nd over to leave Ireland staring at defeat at 11-3.

A 20-minute rain delay did little to dampen West Indian spirits and Rampaul struck a third time in his next over to heap further misery on Ireland. A 23-run partnership between Gary Wilson and Kevin O'Brien took the score along to 39 before the latter became Sammy's first victim with the ball.

Wilson was the innings' highest scorer with 17 before he became the fourth batsman to be caught by Sammy, off the bowling of Bravo. The last five wickets fell for just 13 runs, and the innings collapsed for 68. Amazingly Ireland were saved the ignominy of having the lowest ever score in T20 Internationals by a solitary run, the record stays with Kenya interestingly bowled out for 67 by Ireland!

Darren Sammy completed the perfect match by scoring 30 runs, picking up 3 wickets and taking 4 catches, and was the only candidate for the man of the match award. Ireland have an opportunity to rescue their campaign when they take on England on the 4th of May, and will hope the Windies can do them a favour by knocking over their neighbours the day before.

Mini Scorecard:

West Indies 138/9 (20 overs, 6.9rpo)
Sammy 30 (17)         Dockrell 3-16
Sarwan 24 (26)         Botha 2-7

Ireland 68 all out (16.4 overs, 4.08rpo)
Wilson 17 (34)          Sammy 3-8
K O'Brien 9 (16)        Rampaul 3-17

Also Read: India vs. Afghanistan Match Preview

File Photo Copyright: RSA/ Cricket Ireland

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