By:
Conor Martin
Paul Stirling knows Ireland must improve going forward after they lost their three-match T20 series against a talented West Indies team.
Ireland had hoped to secure a series win over the tourists after the two countries drew a one-day cricket series in May.
However, the Irish weather would have a say, and the first two games were abandoned thanks to the weather.
The West Indies set the hosts a massive 257 to win from 20 overs and despite Ireland starting well, they would lose key wickets and come up well short of their required total, finishing on 194-7.
The returning Adair brothers, Ross and Mark, impressed despite Ireland’s 62-run defeat. Ross Adair made his return to the Irish side and top-scored with 48, just missing out on a half-century. Mark Adair was also back in the side with 31 runs and a wicket.
In an interview with BBC Sport Northern Ireland, Stirling reflected on the series defeat:
“There are some positives to take from it.
“Bowling to a side like the West Indies, who are third or fourth in the world and have the most power of any team in international cricket, and to come up against them on a small enough pitch, they certainly showed what they were capable of, and the score was a tough one to chase.”
https://twitter.com/cricketireland/status/1934306650652897569
Paul Stirling reflects on Irish batting performance
“The message was to go out and give it your all and we just fell short, but there were periods of the game where we feel we were up to the standard and the West Indies score, but it kept going up towards the end.”
Humphreys impresses Stirling
Despite Ireland coming up short in the deciding T20, there was something for Ireland to be somewhat cheerful about. Matthew Humphreys took the wickets of Rovman Powell and Evin Lewis in the 12th over, and Ireland captain Stirling reserved praise for the 22-year old:
“That is one of the best spells of T20 international bowling I’ve witnessed from us.
“The context too – he bowled a left-hander at all stages and had short boundaries, so to come out with 16 runs and two wickets is a real positive. He has really taken that new bowl in his stride and we’re really happy with how he is trucking.”
Ireland have a lot to work on
Ireland are next in T20 action in September when they play host to a talented England side in a three-match series. Skipper Stirling knows Ireland must improve ahead of another massive task this autumn:
“We’ve got a lot to work on. We have domestic cricket coming up in the next weeks and the gap after that will be the tricky part. We have to come into September in better preparation than we are at already.”
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