Ireland inflicted an embarrassing six-wicket defeat on West Indies in their second one-day match in Belfast today. Thirty-five years after Ireland famously bowled Clive Lloyd's West Indies out for just 25 in Sion Mills, County Tyrone, Brian Lara's side became the latest in a string of top teams to fall foul of the Irish giantkillers.
Last year they beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets and earlier this season they dumped
Surrey out of the C&G Trophy with a five-wicket triumph at Clontarf. But this victory will eclipse both those recent triumphs.
Dwane Bravo was the star of the West Indies innings as the Trinidadian youngster's unbeaten century helped the tourists to 292 for seven from their 50
overs - but it was not enough as Ireland won with 19 balls to spare.
Captain Brian Lara, who batted down at number eight and scored just one run, had called for an improvement at the top of the order after Wednesday's comfortable 96-run victory.
However, opener Shivnarine Chanderpaul was an early casualty, snapped up behind the stumps by Niall O'Brien off the bowling of Trent Johnston for just two.
Chris Gayle was another Johnston victim as the tourists toiled on 46 for two but a third wicket stand of 72 between Devon Smith and Ricardo Powell steadied the nerves.
But it was Bravo's unbeaten century that helped set a difficult target for the hosts. He blazed 12 boundaries, including three sixes, to wrack up his 100 off just 65 balls.
Australian professional Johnston recorded Ireland's best figures with two for 29 while home-grown medium pacer John Mooney's three wickets came at a price of nearly seven an over.
Ireland chased their target with gusto - captain Jason Mollins and fellow opener Jeremy Bray scored rapidly in a first-wicket partnership of 111 before Mollins was bowled by Ravi Rampaul on 66.
Bray lost no momentum though adding a further 50 runs in a quick-fire second-wicket stand with Andre Botha.
Botha went for 15 and Bray followed soon afterwards for 71, galloping down the track to take on Chris Gayle's right arm off-breaks, only to be stumped by an alert Ridley Jacobs.
However, 22-year old wicketkeeper O'Brien, who was devastated after he was dismissed for two on Wednesday, made amends with style.
The classy left-hander played a wide range of shots in a fourth-wicket stand with Peter Gillespie, who was run out on 25 as Ireland inched ever close to their target.
Andrew White joined O'Brien for a 57-run partnership that steered Ireland to their improbable victory.
Filed by Aidan O'Doherty
