In a commanding display of both composure and explosiveness, Keacy Carty and Matthew Forde led the West Indies to a towering total against Ireland in their second One Day International encounter. Batting first at Castle Avenue in Dublin, the West Indies compiled a mammoth 352 for 8, thanks to a masterclass century by Carty and a whirlwind cameo from Forde that left the Irish bowlers searching for answers.
Early in the innings, the West Indies found themselves in a precarious position after losing a couple of quick wickets. The Irish seamers made early inroads, exploiting the conditions with some tight lines and movement off the surface. However, Keacy Carty stepped up with maturity beyond his years. Anchoring the innings with calm assurance, Carty crafted a fluent century, scoring 102 off 109 deliveries. His innings was marked by crisp drives, well-judged singles, and a strong understanding of the match situation. It was his second century in ODI cricket, and arguably his most significant contribution in West Indies colors.
Carty found solid support from skipper Shai Hope, who once again provided the stability and class expected from one of the most consistent performers in West Indies’ white-ball cricket. Their partnership helped rebuild the innings and set a platform for the explosive finish that followed.
That explosive finish was delivered with brute force and flair by Matthew Forde. Coming in at number eight, Forde turned the momentum of the match in a matter of minutes. He bludgeoned his way to 58 off just 19 balls, reaching his fifty in a blistering 16 deliveries. That mark equaled the record for the fastest half-century in ODI history and completely swung the energy of the contest.
Forde’s onslaught included eight towering sixes and two fierce boundaries, as he dismantled Ireland’s death bowling plans with clinical power-hitting. His innings not only boosted the West Indies total but also demoralized the Irish bowlers, who had no answer to the late-innings assault.
Together, Carty’s control and Forde’s carnage showcased the depth of talent in the West Indies lineup. It was a balanced display—one that blended classical batting with modern-day T20-style aggression. The contrast in styles made the innings a compelling watch for fans and a complex puzzle for the opposition.
For Ireland, the target of 353 was always going to be an uphill battle. While their bowlers had moments of discipline early on, they simply could not contain the fury of the West Indies in the latter stages. The fielders were under pressure, the bowlers strayed in their lengths, and the result was a total that tilted the match heavily in the visitors’ favor.
This performance will serve as a major confidence booster for the West Indies, who have been striving for consistency in the 50-over format. For Carty, it reaffirmed his growing reputation as a dependable top-order batter. For Forde, it was a breakout performance that will be remembered as one of the most electric cameos in recent ODI memory.
As the series progresses, West Indies will look to build on this dominant showing. With their top order firing and the lower middle order capable of game-changing destruction, they now appear well-poised to reclaim their standing as one of the most feared white-ball sides in the world.
For more news updates, follow 12B Sports India Facebook .