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ST LUCIA – West Indies Women claimed a 2-0 ODI series victory over Ireland Women – despite an unbeaten 95* from Gaby Lewis – while teenager Aimee Maguire announced herself on the world stage by taking two wickets on her international debut.

Lewis finished five runs short of her maiden ODI century, while left-arm spinner Maguire claimed 2-24 with the ball – despite this, half-centuries from Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry ensured a six-wicket West Indies win.

Ireland – who included 16 year-old debutant Magurie in the starting XI – won the toss and elected to bat, and were going along at four runs an over for the first four overs. However, a bowling change in the 5th over saw Leah Paul depart early – edging Cherry Ann Fraser’s delivery to West Indies captain Hayley Matthews at second slip.

The home side turned to spin in the eighth over – with Matthews bringing herself on.  But after a couple of leg-side boundaries, Orla Prendergast played at a Fraser delivery going down leg side and was given out caught behind. After she was dismissed, Ireland’s middle-order collapsed from 44-2 to 110-7, with the West Indian spinners causing Ireland’s batters all sorts of problems.

Lewis continued to hold one end up and brought up her fifty in the 34th over, off 79 balls.

Late support from Ava Canning (20), and a 50-run ninth-wicket partnership with Cara Murray (19) saw Ireland show plenty of resolve in the tail.

Lewis was firmly determined to eke out every run for her side, and despite being on 95* – with a maiden ODI century within her grasp – Lewis called Murray through for a second run with just four balls of the inning remaining. Murray fell two balls later – after smashing a four to deep extra cover then Maguire was clean bowled by Shamillia Connell with the last ball of the innings, Ireland finished on 203.

Early on in the West Indies reply, Prendergast took the highly-prized wicket of Matthews in the third over, with the centurion from game one slashing at a ball outside of off stump and feathering it to wicketkeeper Amy Hunter. It was Hunter’s first dismissal while keeping wicket for Ireland at senior level.

Despite a 37-minute rain delay, Ireland’s bowlers continued to bowl a consistent line and length, and Sophie MacMahon made inroads when she trapped teenager Zaida James in front in her first over.

Then Maguire was handed the ball for the first time in the 21st over. There was no sign of nerves, as the debutant bowled five dot balls in her first over of International cricket – and in her second, she tempted Rashada Williams into coming slightly down the track, missing the ball, and was stumped by Hunter.

Maguire repeated the feat in her next over, claiming the wicket of Shemaine Campbelle, with the West Indies looking vulnerable at 94-4 at the halfway point of their innings.

Despite giving Ireland a glimpse of a possible victory, Taylor combined well with Henry for a 110-run unbeaten partnership to see the West Indies home with just less than nine overs remaining. Taylor scoring the winning runs by hitting a four straight down the ground.

The sides will meet again on Tuesday, 4 July for the first of a three-match T20I series. 

MATCH SUMMARY

Ireland Women v West Indies Women, 3rd ODI, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia, 1 July 2023

Ireland Women 203 (50 overs; G Lewis 95*, A Canning 20; A Fletcher 3-37)
West Indies Women 204-4 (41.1 overs; S Taylor 79*, C Henry 53*; 2-24 A Maguire)

West Indies won by 6 wickets

See full scorecard