Balbirnie ton sets up Ireland's thumping win

Andrew Balbirnie's measured century set up Ireland's thumping win over West Indies in the opening ODI in Dublin. Balbirnie was well supported by skipper Paul Stirling initially and then Harry Tector later as Ireland breached 300. West Indies were rattled in the run chase, especially by Barry McCarthy as they were reduced to 31/5 at one point before eventually succumbing to lose by 124 runs.

The Irish openers did make a watchful start with Stirling taking 13 balls to get off the mark and Balbirnie batting on 7 off 19 at one point. But eventually a flurry of boundaries from both ends helped Ireland push the rate up. The recovery was quite good that the duo ended up adding over 100 for the opening wicket with the skipper bringing up a 61-ball fifty. He couldn't kick on though as the new West Indies Test skipper Roston Chase got rid of him immediately after coming into the attack.

While Cade Carmichael didn't impress much on debut, his dismissal brought out a busy Tector out to the middle as Ireland were aided by another big partnership. Taking 80 balls for his half-century, Balbirnie finally appeared to be busy at the crease with two sixes in two overs off Chase. Tector at the other end went on a boundary-hitting spree as Ireland set themselves up at 220/2 with ten overs remaining. However, West Indies staged a commendable comeback from thereon as they got rid of Balbirnie after he got his century before picking up the big wicket of Tector as well. If not for a cameo from Lorcan Tucker, Ireland would have struggled to breach 290.

Chasing 304, the visitors needed a solid start from their openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis. King appeared to make the most of his dropped chance earlier with a couple of lovely boundaries but the movement from the new ball did keep his side on their toes. Lewis didn't help his cause as he was needlessly run out. McCarthy then ripped through that battling lineup with the wickets of Keacy Carty, King and Amir Jangoo to stun West Indies. And if that wasn't enough, Shai Hope fell four deliveries later.

Justin Greaves did break the shackles by going on a boundary-spree, racing to 34 off just 14 at one point but Josh Little ended his cameo to dent West Indies further. At 71/6, there was literally no way back for the batting side. Chase and Matthew Forde delayed the inevitable with a defiant 98-run stand and once George Dockrell broke that partnership, Ireland literally took just 13 more deliveries to wrap this up. With a 1-0 lead, Ireland will now host West Indies at the same venue for the second ODI on Friday.