Cricket:Ramnaresh Sarwan's unbeaten century led the West Indies to a six-wicket win over Ireland at Sabina Park. Ireland were grateful to substantial contributions from Paul Stirling and the O'Brien brothers as they were bowled out for 219.
A brief rain delay left the Windies to chase 213 in 45 overs and they made it with an over to spare as Sarwan sparkled.
Stirling and Kevin O’Brien both made half centuries in Ireland’s innings while Niall O’Brien fell a run short, but the rest of their line-up offered little.
Bernard made early inroads, removing skipper Will Porterfield and Andre Botha, before Stirling and Niall O’Brien combined to add 51 for the third wicket and take Ireland past the 100 mark.
Nikita Miller then accounted for O’Brien, before Narsingh Deonarine had Alex Cusack stumped by Andre Fletcher. Stirling and was run out for 51 before Gary Wilson became Bernard’s third victim, bringing Kevin O’Brien and Andrew White together.
The pair attempted to accelerate the rate and O’Brien hit two sixes as they added 53 for the seventh wicket. But once White fell to Sulieman Benn, O’Brien was bowled for 54 off 51 balls soon after and the tail could not add late runs.
West Indies made a slow start to their reply with the loss of openers Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Fletcher with the score on only two.
Chanderpaul was caught by Botha off the final ball of Peter Connell’s opening over for a second-ball duck and Fletcher followed four balls later, caught by Stirling off Trent Johnston for one.
Rain stopped play at nine for two from 5.2 overs, forcing the modification in the target. Wavell Hinds then helped Sarwan begin the revival by playing an uncharacteristic supporting role in a third-wicket stand of 55.
The usually big-hitting Hinds ultimately departed for 20, compiled over 52 balls with only one four and one six, before offering a return catch to 17-year-old left-arm spinner George Dockrell.
Sarwan maintained a scoring rate of close to a run a ball throughout a century stand with Deonarine, who stepped up the scoring rate.
The all-rounder smashed four fours and two maximums in a knock of 57 from 49 balls, before being caught by Cusack off the bowling of Stirling. Sarwan hit 11 fours in a classy century and was joined by Dwayne Bravo in an unbroken stand of 46 to complete the win.
Bravo made 28 not out from 36 balls, hitting two sixes, with Sarwan left on exactly 100 as the hosts reached 213 for four with an over to spare.