The third and final T20I between West Indies and Ireland in Bready witnessed a spectacle of power-hitting, as West Indies posted a massive 256 for 5 — their second-highest total in T20I history — to secure a comprehensive 62-run victory and seal the series 1-0. After the first two matches were washed out, this dominant display gave the tourists a well-deserved series win.
The innings was lit up by Evin Lewis, who top-scored with a thunderous 91 off just 44 deliveries. He was well-supported by Shai Hope, who blasted 51 from 27 balls, and debutant Keacy Carty, who remained unbeaten on 49 from just 22 deliveries. The trio helped West Indies blast a staggering 20 sixes during the innings, shaking the trees surrounding the ground, smashing the sightscreen, and sending the local crowd scurrying for cover multiple times.
West Indies were surprisingly sedate in the first two overs, managing only 11 runs. But that slow start was quickly forgotten as Lewis and Hope launched an all-out assault on the Irish bowling attack. By the end of the powerplay, the scoreboard read 70 without loss, setting the tone for the carnage that followed. While Matthew Humphreys was the only bowler to maintain any control — returning with superb figures of 2 for 16 in his four overs — the rest of Ireland’s attack was brutally dismantled.
Lewis and Hope brought up their half-centuries in style, each reaching the landmark with a six. Lewis smashed his 50 off 29 balls by heaving Liam McCarthy over deep square leg, while Hope required just 24 deliveries, lofting leg-spinner Ben White straight down the ground. The duo’s 122-run opening partnership came to an end in the 11th over when Barry McCarthy had Hope caught at long-on. That triggered a brief wobble, with Rovman Powell and Lewis falling soon after, reducing West Indies from 122 for 0 to 152 for 3.
However, any hopes of an Irish comeback were quickly dashed as Carty walked in and unleashed a barrage of boundaries. The debutant struck four fours and four sixes, displaying remarkable composure and power on debut. Support came from all ends, with Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, and Romario Shepherd all playing brisk cameos to keep the scoreboard ticking. In total, a remarkable 200 of the 256 runs came in boundaries — a clear indicator of the West Indies’ aggressive intent.
Ireland’s bowlers had no answers. Debutant Liam McCarthy had a nightmare outing, leaking 81 runs in his four overs — the most ever conceded by a bowler on T20I debut. The only bright spot was Humphreys, who not only bowled economically but also picked up the key wickets of Powell and Hetmyer. He might have had even better figures had Harry Tector not dropped a simple catch at deep cover in the eighth over when Lewis was on 44 — a mistake that proved immensely costly.
In response, Ireland got off to a flying start, with Paul Stirling cracking the first three deliveries of the innings to the boundary. A strong partnership followed between Ross Adair and Harry Tector, who added 101 runs for the second wicket, giving the hosts a glimmer of hope in chasing what would have been one of the highest-ever T20I chases. However, Tector’s dismissal in the 11th over triggered a collapse that Ireland couldn’t recover from.
Akeal Hosein was instrumental in stemming the run flow. Despite being hit early by Stirling, he bounced back admirably to finish with 3 for 27 from his four overs. Jason Holder chipped in with 2 for 49, while the rest of the attack kept their discipline as the required rate ballooned.
Ireland eventually finished on 194 for 7, 62 runs short of the target. While there were some standout efforts — including 48 from Ross Adair, 38 from Tector, and an unbeaten 31 from Mark Adair — the innings never recovered from the mid-innings collapse.
This commanding win marks a strong statement from West Indies as they continue to rebuild in the shortest format. Lewis’ explosive 91 was the cornerstone of their victory, with valuable contributions from across the batting lineup. Ireland, on the other hand, will be left ruing their missed chances — particularly the dropped catch of Lewis — and their inability to contain the West Indian onslaught.
With this 1-0 series win, West Indies reaffirm their prowess in T20 cricket, while Ireland will have to reflect on areas for improvement ahead of future international fixtures.
