There’s a popular sentiment in sports, “Second chances hardly come-by”. Well, if anyone, try convincing that to the Ireland cricket team, who had almost dispelled away that notion for once and for all. Except only in the dying moments of the game, nerves got the better of their composure, while Sheldon Cottrell provided the perfect anti-climatic finish with a six off the penultimate-ball, winning West Indies the match by a lone wicket.
To Ireland’s credit though, this performance was quite an improvement over their 180-run batting debacle in the last match. Not to say it was a top-notch batting performance either; only opener Paul Stirling could cross the 50-run mark in his team’s 237-run effort. On the bowling front, however, it was a much better performance. Captain Andy McBrine and pacers Barry McCarthy and Boyd Rankin started off well to snare 3 crucial scalps in the batting power-play. Punjab-born spinner Simi Singh then dismissed Shai Hope before he could get going, tilting the scales slightly towards the visitors. However, the Windies soon engaged into recuperation-mode with captain Kieron Pollard ans Nicholas Pooran’s 64-run partnership. Once they crossed the 130 run mark at the 25th over, Windies appeared set for yet another comfortable chase.
Ireland’s comeback
But it wasn’t long before Ireland fought their way back into the game. First, Singh bowled a smart drifting delivery to get rid of the dangerously-batting Pooran. An over later, McCarthy took a good catch off his own bowling to send Pollard back, acquiring his second wicket in the process. From there on, the Irish bowlers stuck to an attacking strategy, which worked, as they soon claimed the wickets of Khary Pierre and Romario Shephard. The hosts still weren’t out of the match, thanks to a defiant partnership Alzarri Joseph and Hayden Jr. Walsh tried to foster. But once Mark Odair dismissed Joseph in the 48th over, the match looked set for a thrilling-finish. Ireland only needed a wicket, while the Windies had to score six runs in the last 2 overs to win.
Skipper McBrine bowled a brilliant penultimate over, yielding just a single run to leave a 5-run target for the last over. Mark Adair took the ball to conclude the game’s final over, but only 2 balls into the over, utter commotion ensued!
Strike 1!
The over’s third ball; Cottrell parried the ball away for a single and ran for the opposite-crease. The fielder at straight mid-off fielded and lobbed the ball at Adair, who collected in perfect time to knock the stumps out! All but one Ireland fielders had started to celebrate, confident that they had got their last wicket. But the video replays could not conclusively determine if Adair had lost his grip with the ball while dislodging the bails. It took some time, but ultimately, Cottrell survived due to lack of conclusive evidence.
One of the craziest finishes ever during #WIvIRE
With West Indies needing 4 off 4 with one wicket remaining, Ireland looked to have won it, however the third umpire deemed that Adair broke the stumps after the ball left his hands pic.twitter.com/pzdirJ4g69
— Nathan Williamson (@NathJWilliamson) January 10, 2020
Strike 2!
The next ball, and the Irish fielders made a complete comedy of errors to mess an easy run-out chance. Walsh had hit the full-toss delivery over extra covers; his partner Cottrell was confident that they could complete a second-run. But Hayden wasn’t sure, and before Cotrell could gauge that, the throw came from long-off. Walsh literlly screamed for Cotrell to get back, but he was already halfway into the pitch. It was some time before the throw finally reached Adair, who frantically jabbed it at ‘keeper Kevin O Brien. But Cottrell had already made his way back into the crease. A poor throw cost Ireland their second, match-winning chance.
Next ball, Cottrell gets abandoned running for a second and slips
But once again, Ireland throw the game away, with a poor throw and fumble allowing him to get back safely #WIvIRE pic.twitter.com/eGPNtdym0T
— Nathan Williamson (@NathJWilliamson) January 10, 2020
3 strikes and you’re out…or not-out?
The missed opportunities cost Ireland their game, as in the very next ball, Cottrell clobbered a wide delivery for a six. While the Windies crowd and players celebrated frantically, Ireland could only bow their heads in regret. In the process, he became the only no. 11 batsman to finish a chase with a six. Here’s a replay of Cottrell’s game-deciding shot.
Cottrell then finishes the game off with a six, gifting West Indies the one wicket win
Cricket is the gift that keeps on giving #WIvIRE pic.twitter.com/npis8kmh0T
— Nathan Williamson (@NathJWilliamson) January 10, 2020
