Shamarh Brooks, making his ODI debut at the age of 33, top-scored with 93 as West Indies defeated Ireland by 24 runs in the first match of a three-game series at Sabina Park on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The West Indies made 269 after being put into bat before Ireland collapsed from 165-1 to 245 all out in reply.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brooks, whose late development as an international cricketer meant the Barbados batsman was already 29 when he made his Test debut, hit nine boundaries and three sixes in his 89-ball stay.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Captain Kieron Pollard smashed 69 with four boundaries and four sixes in a 155-run fifth-wicket partnership with Brooks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Three of those sixes came off successive balls in the 37th over bowled by Andy McBrine as the pair rescued their team from a worrying 62-4.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Opening bowler Mark Adair returned figures of 3-38 off 8.5 overs including the lbw dismissal of Brooks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In reply, the Irish were well-set at 165-1 with captain Andy Balbirnie making 71 and Harry Tector contributing 53.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Balbirnie hit seven fours and a six while Tector swept five boundaries and one six.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, once they fell in the space of eight balls, the required run-rate crept up and the West Indies claimed a key opening victory in a series which forms part of the qualifying route to the 2023 World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Romario Shepherd finished with 3-50, including the key wicket of Balbirnie, while Alzarri Joseph claimed 3-55.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ireland's problems were compounded by McBrine getting hit on the helmet by debutant fast bowler Odean Smith in the 16th over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
McBrine had made 34 when he was forced to retire with concussion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ireland's star opening batsman Paul Stirling and all-rounder Shane Getkate were both ruled out of the game having tested positive for Covid-19 in Florida where the ODI leg of their tour was abandoned.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Simi Singh and Ben White were also sidelined after testing positive on Friday night.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The West Indies were also hit by Covid which ruled out Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen and Anderson Phillip.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shimron Hetmyer, West Indies' leading run-scorer at the T20 World Cup last year, was dropped for failing to meet fitness standards.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The second match of the series takes place at the same venue on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief scores<\/p>\r\n\r\n
West Indies 269 all out in 48.5 overs (Shamarh Brooks 93, Kieron Pollard 69) v Ireland 245 all out in 49.1 overs (Andy Balbirnie 71, Harry Tector 53)<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Result: West Indies won by 24 runs<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Series: West Indies lead 1-0<\/p>\r\n\r\n
2nd ODI: Sabina Park, Jan 11<\/p>\r\n\r\n
3rd ODI: Sabina Park, Jan 14<\/p>\r\n\r\n