No Result West Indies 16 for 1 (Simmons 10, Stirling 1-11) v Ireland 147 for 9 (Delany 44, Balbirnie 36, Pollard 4-25, Cottrell 2-10)

Rain had the final say in St Kitts when West Indies were 16 for 1 in 2.2 overs, chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 152 against Ireland in the second T20I. The no result means Ireland now have an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

After putting Ireland in, West Indies captain Kieron Pollard picked up a four-wicket haul to restrict the opposition to 149 for 9 in 19 overs in a rain-interrupted innings.

On a start-stop day, Ireland had done well to reach 109 for 3 in 13 overs, thanks to Gareth Delany’s 44 off 22 balls. But they could manage only 38 in the last six overs and posted what looked like a below-par total on a small ground. However, the rain gods had other plans.

Delany, Balbirnie step up after slow start

Unlike the first T20I where Ireland had smashed 93 in the powerplay, they found it difficult to get going against Sheldon Cottrell. From the other end, debutant Romario Shepherd removed Kevin O’Brien in his first over in T20Is, just before the rain made the first appearance. When play resumed after almost an hour, Paul Stirling hit Shepherd for a six and collected two more fours in the seamer’s next over. However, Cottrell removed him for 17 to leave Ireland 28 for 2 in five overs.

Delany then joined hands with Andrew Balbirnie and two added 72 in 7.1 overs for the third wicket. Both batsmen shuffled in the crease to disrupt the bowlers’ lines and found boundaries with ease. Delany was particularly severe on Hayden Walsh Jr who struggled with the wet ball. In the legspinner’s second over, the tenth of the innings, Delany struck him for four successive sixes as Walsh bowled either too short or too full.

Pollard stalls Ireland’s progress

After that big over from Walsh, Pollard realised he couldn’t afford to continue with spin anymore and brought himself own. And it took him just two balls to make the breakthrough. Delany once again tried to clear long-on but Khary Pierre held on to a superb catch running to his left near the boundary line. In his next over, he sent back Balbirnie as well to peg Ireland further back. Using the crease, Pollard either took the pace off or banged it short. Two such slower balls did Gary Wilson and George Dockrell in as Pollard finished with career-best figures.

Harry Tector’s 31 off 23 took Ireland towards 150 but another 20-minute rain intervention led to a chaotic end of the innings. Ireland were 147 for 6 in 18.3 overs when the players walked off. But after the resumption – with the game reduced to a 19-over contest – they lost three wickets in three balls with Cottrell getting Simi Singh caught-behind followed by two run-outs as the batsmen tried to sneak in byes.

Third time unlucky

With Balbirnie not coming out due to a hamstring strain, stand-in captain Stirling took the gamble to open the bowling himself. While Lendl Simmons hit him for a six and a four, the move paid off as the batsman was caught at deep square leg as he couldn’t resist another go. But then the rain returned and this time for good to deny West Indies a go at what looked like a chasebale total on a small ground.