Irish cricketers lose out to West Indies

West Indies captain Chris Gayle blasted his side to a crushing nine-wicket victory against Ireland in a World Twenty20 warm-up at the Brit Oval today.

Gayle struck seven sixes in an unbeaten 88 as the West Indians comfortably surpassed Ireland’s 130 for seven.

They got to their target with 24 balls to spare after left-hander Gayle unleashed his explosive strokeplay.

They had made 77 for one by the halfway stage of their chase, of which Gayle contributed 50, and his savage assault on off-spinner Kyle McCallan’s third over yielded two of his clearances of the ropes.

Two more came in the decisive 16th over, sent down by medium pacer John Mooney, as Ireland’s back-up bowlers took a pounding.

Ireland’s single success with the ball came in the eighth over when youngster Andre Fletcher, who impressed with his sheer power, miscued an expansive stroke from McCallan’s second delivery and was caught at point.