Friday, March 29, 2024

Powell stars against Ireland

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HARARE – Rovman Powell struck a scintillating maiden One-Day International (ODI) hundred as West Indies disposed of the previously unbeaten Ireland by 52 runs to book their place in the Super Sixes of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers Saturday.

Asked to bat first at Harare Sports Club, the Windies wobbled briefly before raising 257 for eight off their 50 overs, with Powell lashing 101 off 100 balls.

Captain Jason Holder continued his good batting form with 54, while Shimron Hetmyer got 36.

Seamers Kemar Roach and Kesrick Williams picked up four wickets each as Ireland collapsed from 166 for four in the 37th over, to be dismissed for 205 in the 47th.

Veteran Ed Joyce top-scored with 63, while Kevin O’Brien scored 38 and brother Niall O’Brien, 34.

The victory for the heavy favourites was their third on the trot and put them in the second stage of the competition, along with Scotland and hosts Zimbabwe, with a game against The Netherlands remaining tomorrow.

The Windies found themselves slumping at 83 for five in the 19th over and in danger of collapse.

Evin Lewis sliced a drive off pacer Boyd Rankin to point to depart for nine at 18 for one in the fifth over and opening partner Chris Gayle perished in the tenth over for 14, snicking a forward defensive prod at seamer Tim Murtagh, who finished with four for 41.

Marlon Samuels succumbed to a beauty from Murtagh and was taken behind by gloveman Niall O’Brien for two, and Shai Hope followed in the 15th over, caught down the leg-side off off-spinner Andy McBrine for seven trying to turn an innocuous delivery.

Hetmyer, who faced 40 balls and struck three fours and a six, added 25 for the fifth wicket with Holder before failing to clear long off in the 19th over.

Powell then orchestrated two key half-century stands to pull West Indies around, posting 86 for the sixth wicket with Holder and 60 for the eighth wicket with Ashley Nurse.

The right-handed Jamaican, in his 19th ODI, struck seven fours and sixes while Holder belted three fours and a six off 71 balls.

Powell took 77 deliveries making his first fifty, but upped the tempo to lash his second fifty off 21 balls. He eventually fell to the fourth ball of the final over, holing out to mid-wicket off Murtagh, after helping the Windies plunder 84 runs from the last ten overs.

Roach and Holder then struck telling blows with the new ball to send Ireland tumbling to 32 for three in the 11th over.

Joyce, however, anchored two successive half-century stands as Ireland rallied.He put on 64 for the fourth wicket with Niall O’Brien before adding 70 for the fifth with Kevin O’Brien.

Niall pulled a short one from Williams to deep square leg to depart in the 25th over and Joyce was dismissed in the 37th over, turning Roach off his pads to short mid-wicket.

Roach hit Kevin O’Brien in front with the last ball of the same over, leaving Ireland floundering on 167 for six.

Gary Wilson and George Dockrell provided the last ray of hope in a 31-run, seventh-wicket stand but Dockrell’s demise, lbw to Holder in the 44th over, triggered a slide as the last four wickets fell for just seven runs. (CMC)

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