Ireland vs West Indies 2nd ODI 2025: Rain Foils Carty and Forde’s Heroics.

Ireland vs West Indies 2nd ODI 2025: Rain Foils Carty and Forde’s Heroics.

                    Ireland ancient times. The hosts, led by Paul Stirling, were buoyed by their commanding 124-run victory in the first ODI, where Andy Balbirnie’s ninth ODI century and Barry McCarthy’s four-wicket haul had outclassed the visitors.

West Indies, under Shai Hope’s captaincy, were desperate to level the series to keep their hopes alive for a decider in the third ODI. With both teams eyeing direct qualification for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, the stakes were high, and the match promised a thrilling contest. However, persistent rain in Dublin had other plans, ultimately leading to the match being abandoned, leaving Ireland with a 1-0 lead heading into the final ODI.

Toss and Team Changes

The match began with Ireland winning the toss and electing to field first at the Clontarf Cricket Club, a decision influenced by the moisture in the pitch and overcast conditions that favored seam bowling early on. Ireland fielded an unchanged XI from their victorious first ODI, retaining debutants Cade Carmichael, Thomas Mayes, and Liam McCarthy, who had impressed in Dublin. West Indies, however, made one change, bringing in Jayden Seales for Shamar Joseph to bolster their pace attack.

 

The West Indies squad included Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (c/wk), Amir Jangoo, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, and Jayden Seales. Ireland’s lineup featured Paul Stirling (c), Andrew Balbirnie, Cade Carmichael, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Thomas Mayes, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little, and Liam McCarthy.

West Indies Innings: A Tale of Resilience and Firepower

West Indies’ batting innings started on a shaky note, with their openers struggling against Ireland’s disciplined new-ball attack. Brandon King (8 off 14) was dismissed early in the 2.3rd over, followed by Evin Lewis (17 off 21) in the 7.5th over, leaving the visitors at 46/2. The early breakthroughs came courtesy of Ireland’s seamers, with Joshua Little and Liam McCarthy exploiting the conditions to extract movement and trouble the top order. The pitch, known for offering a balance between bat and ball, initially assisted the bowlers due to the morning moisture.

Keacy Carty and Shai Hope Steady the Ship

The innings was stabilized by a crucial 81-run partnership between Keacy Carty and captain Shai Hope for the third wicket. Carty, playing with composure, anchored the innings, while Hope contributed a fluent 49 off 61 balls, falling just one run short of a half-century. Their stand took West Indies to 127/3 by the 22.5th over, setting a platform for the middle order. Hope’s dismissal, caught off Andy McBrine’s spin, was a setback, but Carty continued to hold fort, reaching his second ODI century in a well-compiled 103 off 119 balls. His innings was a masterclass in pacing, blending caution with timely aggression, including a boundary off Joshua Little and a lofted cover drive against George Dockrell.

Matthew Forde’s Record-Equalling Blitz

The game’s defining moment came in the final 10 overs, where West Indies plundered 125 runs, largely due to Matthew Forde’s explosive batting. Coming in at No. 7, Forde smashed the joint-fastest ODI fifty, equalling AB de Villiers’ record with a 16-ball half-century. His 58 off 19 balls included two fours and eight sixes, with 56 of his runs coming through boundaries—a staggering 96.55% boundary percentage, the highest for a 50-plus score in men’s ODIs.

Forde’s onslaught began in the 46th over, where he smashed a four and a wide off Liam McCarthy, followed by a series of towering sixes, including one over deep mid-wicket off Joshua Little in the 49th over that necessitated a ball change. His aggressive intent transformed a competitive total into an imposing one, as he “came out firing, and it was absolute carnage,” according to commentators.

Forde’s knock ended in the 46.5th over when Liam McCarthy bowled him with a full delivery that sneaked through to hit the leg stump. Forde walked off to a standing ovation, having single-handedly changed the complexion of the innings. Justin Greaves (44 off 36) and Gudakesh Motie (18 off 8, including two sixes) provided valuable support, ensuring West Indies finished at a formidable 352/8 in 50 overs. Greaves’ contribution included back-to-back fours off Barry McCarthy in the 48th over and a six off Joshua Little in the 47th, showcasing his ability to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Ireland’s Bowling Effort

Ireland’s bowlers faced a tough day, with Joshua Little finishing as the most expensive, conceding 89 runs in his 10 overs for two wickets, including Motie’s dismissal in the final over. Liam McCarthy was the standout, picking up 3/66, including the crucial wicket of Forde, while Barry McCarthy took 2/68. Despite the early breakthroughs, Ireland struggled to contain the run flow in the death overs, with Forde’s blitz exposing their lack of variations. George Dockrell and Andy McBrine bowled tidily in the middle overs but couldn’t prevent the late surge, as West Indies capitalized on loose deliveries and fielding lapses.

Rain Intervenes: The Chase That Never Was

As West Indies posted 352/8, the stage was set for a daunting chase for Ireland, who had chased down 304 successfully in the first ODI. However, the weather gods had other plans. A drizzle began during the innings break, and by 14:36 Local Time (19:06 IST), the pitch was under covers. The commentary noted, “We are seeing little rain drops and the pitch being covered.

Hopefully it is not a long delay and we start on time”. Unfortunately, the drizzle persisted, and by 15:05 Local Time (19:35 IST), the rain was steady enough to delay the start of Ireland’s innings. Former Ireland Women’s captain Isobel Joyce remarked, “They are not going to get 50 overs,” highlighting the need for at least 20 overs to constitute a match.

The groundstaff worked tirelessly, with Super Soppers clearing water from the covers, but the rain remained relentless. Updates at 16:30 Local Time (21:00 IST) confirmed the covers were firmly in place, with the drizzle showing no signs of abating. By 16:49 Local Time (21:19 IST), there was hope as a Super Sopper continued its rounds, but the rain persisted.

A brief moment of optimism came at 17:01 Local Time (21:31 IST), with brighter skies prompting speculation of a resumption, but the overcast conditions remained a concern. At 17:12 Local Time (21:42 IST), the absence of umbrellas among officials suggested a brief pause in the rain, but the accumulated water on the outfield required extensive work.

By 17:20 Local Time (21:50 IST), the umpires, Jonathan Kennedy, Richard Illingworth, and Aidan Seaver, held discussions with ground officials, with captains Paul Stirling and Shai Hope joining in. The handshake between the umpires and officials signaled the inevitable, and at 17:24 Local Time (21:54 IST), the match was officially called off due to persistent rain. The commentary lamented, “Alas, the inevitable has happened. The game has been called off. The score remains 1-0 in favour of Ireland”.

Key Performances and Turning Points

Keacy Carty’s Century: Carty’s 103 off 119 balls was the backbone of West Indies’ innings, providing stability after early losses and setting the stage for the late onslaught.

Matthew Forde’s Record-Equalling Fifty: Forde’s 58 off 19 balls, including eight sixes, equalled AB de Villiers’ record for the fastest ODI fifty and propelled West Indies to 352/8.

Ireland’s Early Bowling Success: Liam McCarthy and Joshua Little’s early wickets reduced West Indies to 46/2, but Ireland couldn’t maintain control in the death overs.

Rain’s Decisive Role: The persistent drizzle from the innings break onwards prevented Ireland from starting their chase, robbing fans of a potential thriller.

Player of the Match and Captains’ Reactions

With the match abandoned, no Player of the Match was awarded, but Keacy Carty and Matthew Forde were the standout performers for West Indies. Reflecting on the first ODI, Paul Stirling had praised his team’s depth and Balbirnie’s anchoring role, stating, “Everything went as we spoke…absolutely delighted”. Shai Hope, disappointed after the first ODI loss, had emphasized the need for early wickets and better powerplay batting, saying, “We needed to show more intent”.

Post the second ODI, Hope likely saw positives in his team’s batting effort but would have been frustrated by the weather’s intervention, as noted in the commentary: “West Indies showed up with the bat today unlike the first game”.

Context from the First ODI

The first ODI on May 21, 2025, saw Ireland dominate with a 124-run victory at Castle Avenue, Dublin. Batting first, Ireland posted 303/6, powered by Andy Balbirnie’s 112 off 138 balls, Paul Stirling’s 54, and Harry Tector’s 56. Their bowlers then dismantled West Indies for 179 in 34.1 overs, with Barry McCarthy’s 4/32 and George Dockrell’s spin proving decisive.

The victory marked Ireland’s first ODI win against West Indies at home and set the tone for the series. Paul Stirling’s milestone of 10,000 international runs added to the hosts’ confidence, while West Indies’ top-order collapse, including Shai Hope’s early dismissal, exposed their vulnerabilities.

Series Implications and Outlook

The abandonment of the second ODI left Ireland leading 1-0, with a golden opportunity to clinch their first home series win since 2019 in the third ODI on May 25, 2025. For West Indies, the rain-interrupted match was a missed chance to level the series, despite their improved batting performance. The third ODI at Castle Avenue, Dublin, becomes a must-win for Shai Hope’s side to avoid a series defeat and boost their 2027 World Cup qualification hopes. Ireland, with their depth and home advantage, will look to replicate their first ODI performance, while West Indies will aim to carry forward their batting momentum and tighten their bowling.

The match also highlighted the challenges of playing in Dublin’s unpredictable weather, with the commentary noting a 50% chance of rain throughout the day. The Clontarf pitch, which settled into a batting-friendly surface after early assistance for seamers, promised high-scoring potential, as evidenced by West Indies’ 352/8. Ireland’s batting unit, led by Balbirnie, Stirling, and Tector, will need to fire to chase a similar total in the decider, while their bowlers must find ways to counter Forde’s aggression and Carty’s solidity.

The second ODI between Ireland and West Indies was a tale of what could have been. West Indies’ batting, led by Keacy Carty’s century and Matthew Forde’s record-equalling fifty, set up a tantalizing chase for Ireland, but persistent rain ensured no further play was possible. The match showcased West Indies’ resilience after a poor start and Ireland’s early bowling promise, but the weather stole the spotlight, leaving fans and players disappointed. As the series moves to the third ODI on May 25, 2025, Ireland stand on the cusp of a historic series win, while West Indies will fight to salvage pride and momentum. The commentary’s final note, “Join us for that game on Sunday. Until then, goodbye and stay safe,” captures the anticipation for a decisive finale.

Scorecard Summary:

West Indies: 352/8 in 50 overs (Keacy Carty 103, Matthew Forde 58, Justin Greaves 44; Liam McCarthy 3/66, Joshua Little 2/89)

Ireland: Did not bat (Match abandoned due to rain)

Result: No result, Ireland lead series 1-0.