West Indies Batters Light Up Dublin Before Rain Takes Over
If there’s anything crueler than a washed-out cricket match, it’s seeing one team blaze to a huge total only for rain to snatch away any hope of a fair contest. That’s exactly what happened at the Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin, where the West Indies put on a fireworks show with the bat—only for the clouds to make the final call.
Batting first, the West Indies lineup piled up a massive 352 for 8 in their fifty overs. Keacy Carty looked comfortable at the crease, stroking the ball around and building the foundation. Justin Greaves added his own flair, dropping anchor and rotating the strike to keep the Irish bowlers guessing. The late fireworks came from Forde, who smashed his way to the joint-fastest ODI half-century in West Indies history. He tore into the bowling, making runs look easy, while all-rounder Motie chipped in at the death to push the score past 350.
For Ireland, containing this run-fest was a real battle. Josh Little was the pick of their attack, finishing with 1 for 45 from 8 overs. He maintained pressure during his spell, but support at the other end was patchy, with the other bowlers leaking runs under the West Indies pressure. Despite brief showers trying to interrupt the rhythm, the full 50 overs for the West Indies got completed before the heavens really opened up.
Rain Turns a One-Sided Game into a Non-Event
The hopes of Ireland fans—maybe even those secret Irish optimists imagining a world-record chase—ended up drowned before they began. Not a single Irish batter made it to the crease. As soon as the break between innings started, the rain came down harder, blanketing Dublin in a stubborn, wet gloom. Ground staff put in their all, covers came on and off, and players loitered, but hope faded with each passing hour. By 5:20 PM local time, umpires finally had to call it off. The official note: Ireland was left needing 353 runs to win, but they never got a shot.
This abrupt ending leaves the three-match series delicately poised. Ireland had scrapped well in the opening contest and looked ready for another spirited chase, but Mother Nature had other plans. For the West Indies, the innings will at least show the depth of their batting order and the kind of form they’re finding in limited-overs cricket. For cricket lovers, though, it’s another reminder that in this game, sometimes the toughest opponent is the weather itself.
