CRICKET:ALL-ROUNDER Andre Russell came back to haunt Ireland yet again as West Indies A won the first of two one-day games by 50 runs at Stormont yesterday.
The 22-year-old Jamaican put in some stand-out performances for his native island on Ireland’s tour there in March and he was at it again with both bat and ball in Belfast.
Coming in at number nine, Russell put the shine on West Indies’ innings with his 64 runs coming from just 31 deliveries as they plundered 101 runs from their last 11.2 overs before being bowled out for 251 with one ball remaining.
Opening bowlers Kevin O’Brien (3-43) and Phil Eaglestone (3-48) were the pick of the Irish attack, while Alex Cusack took two for 49.
Ireland’s reply was decimated by Russell’s pace as he removed the top three batsmen, including debutant Rory McCann, who was unlucky to stand on his own stumps after making six.
A 72-run stand between Andrew White and Alex Cusack gave Ireland some hope, but Russell trapped Cusack leg-before for 15 with the first ball of his second spell before bowling White for 75.
He completed his man-of the-match performance by bowling Ireland’s other debutant, Albert van der Merwe, to finish with stunning figures of six for 42 from his 10 overs, with Ireland being bowled out for 201 with 11 balls remaining.
The two sides meet again at the same venue tomorrow, with Ireland set to be boosted by the return of Trent Johnston and 17-year-old spinner George Dockrell.
Scorecard
(at Stormont, Belfast)
West Indies A won the toss and batted.
WEST INDIES
A D Smith c Mooney b Eaglestone 3
O Phillips c Mooney b K O’Brien 9
A Fletcher c McCann b K O’Brien 8
K Edwards c K O’Brien b Eaglestone 0
A Fudadin run out 50
K Stoute c K O’Brien b Eaglestone 61
C Walton run out 10
D Bernard c McCann b Cusack 7
A Russell c Mooney b K O’Brien 64
G Tonge c Poynter b Cusack 28
A Martin not out 1
Extras (lb5 w5) 10
–––
Total (all out, 49.5 ovs) 251
Fall of Wickets: 1-8, 2-19, 3-21, 4-28, 5-125, 6-136, 7-150, 8-189, 9-231.
Bowling: P Eaglestone 10-0-48-3; K O’Brien 9.5-2-43-3; N Jones 7-0-39-0; A Cusack 9-1-49-2; A van der Merwe 8-1-44-0; J Mooney 6-0-23-0.
IRELAND
G Wilson c Smith b Russell 8
P Stirling c Edwards b Russell 13
R McCann hit wicket b Russell 6
K O’Brien c Smith b Bernard 7
A Poynter c Fudadin b Stoute 13
A White b Russell 75
A Cusack lbw b Russell 15
J Mooney lbw b Martin 11
N Jones c Russell b Tonge 11
A van der Merwe b Russell 8
P Eaglestone not out 3
Extras (b4 lb15 nb1 w11) 31
–––
Total (all out, 48.1 ovs) 201
Fall of Wickets: 1-19, 2-27, 3-35, 4-46, 5-70, 6-142, 7-164, 8-178, 9-188.
Bowling: G Tonge 8.1-0-25-1; A Russell 10-0-42-6; D Bernard 9-1-17-1; K Stoute 10-0-43-1; A Martin 10-0-47-1; A Fadudin 1-0-8-0.
