Kingston (Jamaica), Feb 22 (IANS/CMC) A herculean face saving effort put history on hold allowing West Indies to pull off an 11-run victory over persistent Ireland and draw the two match T20 international series here at Sabina Park.
Captain Darren Sammy grabbed three wickets to lead a late counter-attack as West Indies Friday stormed back from poor batting performance to deprive the visitors of a first series win against a Test playing nation, reports CMC.
Ireland restricted West Indies to an embarrassing 96 for 9 in 20 overs, their second lowest total in completed innings, since making 79 for 7 against Zimbabwe in 2010.
The visitors, at one stage, appeared to be inching to victory until Sammy's diehard bowling display, a three-wicket haul in the middle overs which sent their effort into a tail spin.
Ireland had slumped to 22 for three when Gary Wilson arrived and occupied the crease long enough to move the game gradually away from the hosts.
Wilson was the inspiration to the run chase with a gutsy top score of 35 with four boundaries.
However, an unpopular decision by Sammy to bring Dwayne Bravo back into the attack for a second spell paid off with the wicket of Wilson.
As the crowd voiced their disapproval at Bravo's return, Wilson went for a huge shot, but ended up hitting the ball high into the air for the Trinidadian all-rounder to settle under it.
Sammy had Andrew Poynter caught for two, bowled Kevin O'Brien for three and had Stuart Thompson caught for seven to settle the issue.
West Indies raised their game in the field clawing their way back as Ireland subsided under a combined bowling effort which saw a wicket each for Krishmar Santokie, Samuel Badree, Sunil Narine and Bravo.
The only other Irish batsman to reach double figures was Ed Joyce who scored 10.
Earlier, Alex Cusack with an outstanding four wicket haul rocked the top order and the tail end after West Indies were sent in to bat first.
Cusack, a right arm fast medium bowler, removed the openers after a 27 run stand and the Caribbean side never recovered.
Andre Fletcher, replacement for Chris Gayle who was ruled out with a minor niggle, top scored with 19, including two sixes, and was Cusack's first scalp, caught attempting to play square.
Dwayne Smith (11), Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo (10 each), Lendl Simmons 12 and Sunil Narine 12 not out were the only batsmen to reach double figures besides Fletcher.
Cusack finished with his best T20 figures of four wickets for eleven runs, claiming Denesh Ramdin and Samuel Badree towards the end of the innings.
Sammy was awarded man-of-the-match for leading the fight back by taking three for 22 while Alex Cusack was picked as the man of the series.
Both teams meet in the lone One-Day International (ODI) match Sunday.
Brief scores:
West Indies 96 for 9 (Andre Fletcher 19, Lendl Simmons 12, Dwayne Smith 11, Marlon Samuels 10, Dwayne Bravo 10, Alex Cusack 3/8)
Ireland 85 for 8 (Gary Wilson 35, Darren Sammy 3-22, Krishmar Santokie 1/12, Samuel Badree 1/13, Sunil Narine 1/12, Dwayne Bravo 1/24).
--IANS/CMC
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