T20 World Cup 2022: Ireland Thwart Windies Out Of The Tournament

Hobart: With their nine-wicket victory over West Indies in the opening match of the 2022 T20 World Cup, Ireland made headlines by eliminating the most successful side in the competition’s history from Super 12 play.

West Indies chose to bat first in Hobart after winning the toss. By taking out both openers during the powerplay, Simi Singh and Barry McCarthy gave the Irish the upper hand and caused the run rate to dip.

With his 48-ball 62, which included six fours and one maximum, Brandon King gave the Windies a competitive first-innings total while wickets kept falling at the other end.

With his 12-ball cameo of 19, Odean Smith joined forces toward the end as the 2012 and 2016 champs posted 146/5 in their 20 overs.

The Irish openers attacked the opposition from the get-go, just like they did with the ball. Paul Stirling and captain Andre Balbirnie launched the chase with a 73-run opening stand.

Although Akeal Hosein did give the Windies a breakthrough, it didn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things since Sterling, who went on to score his 21st T20I fifty, and keeper batter Lorcan Tucker subsequently put the game in front of them. The 32-year-old, who ranks fifth in the format, went over the 3000-run threshold as well.

Notably, the Windies have lost six of their last eight games in the competition, since winning the 2016 World Cup in India.