Sunil Ambris (left) soaks in the moment after bringing up his maiden ODI hundred
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
West Indies opener Sunil Ambris smashed a career-best 148 to not only help his side beat Ireland by five wickets, but also ensure they aced their highest successful run chase in ODIs.
However, Ireland batsman Andy Balbirnie deserves a lot of credit as well as he struck a superb 135.
Choosing to bat first, Ireland lost opener James McCollum early on as he was caught behind off the bowling of Sheldon Cottrell.
Paul Stirling and Balbirnie made up for the loss of McCollum with a 146-run partnership before Stirling was caught by Cottrell at fine leg off the bowling of Shannon Gabriel for 77, which came off 98 balls and included eight boundaries and two sixes.
Captain William Porterfield fell shortly after, but Balbirnie and Kevin O’Brien steadied things with an 84-run partnership before Balbirnie was caught by West Indies skipper Jason Holder at long-off off the bowling of Jonathan Carter for 135, which came off 124 balls and included 11 boundaries and four sixes.
Andy Balbirnie celebrates after scoring his fourth ODI century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
O’Brien went on to score a 40-ball 63, which included three boundaries and three sixes, before he was caught by Cottrell at short fine leg off the bowling of Holder.
With Mark Adair hammering a quickfire 25, Ireland finished on 327/5.
Gabriel was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Cottrell, Holder and Carter chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing 328 to win, the West Indies got off to a strong start as Shai Hope and Ambris amassed an 84-run partnership before Hope was caught by McCollum at point off the bowling of Boyd Rankin for 30.
Darren Bravo only made 17 runs before he was dismissed by Stirling.
However, Ambris and Roston Chase stabilised the innings with a 128-run stand before Chase was clean bowled by Josh Little for 46.
Ambris ended up making 148, which came off 126 balls and included 19 boundaries and a six, before he was removed by Rankin.
Carter and Holder kept the West Indies on track for victory with a 75-run partnership before Holder was sent packing by Rankin for 36.
With Carter proceeding to hammer an unbeaten 43 off just 27 balls, the West Indies reached their target with 13 balls to spare.
Rankin was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Little and Stirling claimed one wicket each.
Ambris was named Man of the Match.