Ireland, led by skipper Gaby Lewis, are hosting the West Indies, led by skipper Hayley Matthews, for a three-match ODI series from 10th to 15th July 2026. The visitors took a 1-0 lead after winning the first game by 9 wickets on 10th July. The charged-up West Indian unit were keen to clinch the series, while the home side were determined to fight back and level the series in the 2nd ODI on 12th July 2026 at Bready Cricket Club, Bready in Northern Ireland.
West Indies retained the same side that took the field in their previous clash. Ireland made one change: Alana Dalzell replaced Jane Maguire in the starting 11.
The Irish openers Sarah Forbes (17 off 28 balls) and skipper Gaby Lewis (24 off 36 balls) got their side off to a cautious start with a 38-run opening stand after the West Indian skipper Hayley Matthews won the toss and inserted them to bat first. The visitors bounced back through Deandra Dottin, as she removed both the openers in quick succession, reducing Ireland to 44/2 in the 12th over of the innings.
The wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter rebuilt the innings courtesy of substantial partnerships of 30-runs for the 3rd wicket alongside Orla Prendergast, which was followed by a massive 106-run stand for the 4th wicket alongside Rebecca Stokell (57 off 76 balls), which took them closer to the 200-run mark. Leg-spinner Afy Fletcher broke the stand, by sending Rebecca Stokell back to the pavilion in the 41st over of the innings to provide the much-needed breakthrough for the West Indies.
Skipper Hayley Matthews got the big scalp of the well-set wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter (67 off 87 balls) to provide the crucial breakthrough for her side. She completed her 2nd consecutive half-century in the series before getting dismissed in the 42nd over of the innings. The Irish batters failed to capitalise on a solid platform and struggled to provide a cracking finish to their innings.
The home side just managed to score 53 runs for the loss of two wickets in the final 8 overs of their innings as they posted 241/7 in their quota of 50 overs. Leah Paul (32 off 30 balls) and Alana Dalzell (17* off 9 balls) chipped in with handy cameos with the bat for their side. Deandra Dottin (5-0-15-2), skipper Hayley Matthews (10-1-34-2), Karishma Ramharack (9-0-53-1), and Jannillea Glasgow (8-2-30-0) were impressive with the ball for the West Indies.
Chasing a target of 242, the West Indies suffered an early setback as they lost their opening batter Realeanna Grimmond for a three-ball duck in the first over of the run chase. Orla Prendergast provided the home side with the first breakthrough. Stafanie Taylor joined skipper Hayley Matthews at the crease, and one of the most experienced duo in the side settled into their innings, assessing the conditions on offer.
The pair mixed caution with timely aggression, capitalising on the loose deliveries, ensuring the required rate was under check in the run chase. The partnership soared to decisive proportions, the 2nd highest 2nd wicket stand for the West Indies in ODIs, worth 158 runs, taking the visitors into a comfortable position in the run chase. Louise Little got the big scalp of the opposition skipper, Hayley Matthews (100 off 94 balls), in the 26th over of the run chase to provide the much-needed 2nd breakthrough for the Gaby Lewis-led side. Hayley Matthews registered her 12th ODI century before getting dismissed.
The experience of former skipper Stafanie Taylor came to the fore as she ensured she held one end firm after the departure of Hayley Matthews. She stitched decent partnerships of 30 for the 3rd wicket, alongside Deandra Dottin, and an unbeaten 43-run stand for the 5th wicket alongside the wicket-keeper batter Shemaine Campbelle (10* off 16 balls). That partnership guided the West Indies over the line with 6 wickets in hand and 67 balls to spare, to seal the three-match ODI series.
Stafanie Taylor (100* off 105 balls) registered her 9th century in the format. Orla Prendergast (7-0-39-1), Aimee Maguire (8-0-52-2), and Louise Little (5-0-17-1) were the only wicket-takers with the ball for Ireland. Skipper Hayley Matthews was awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational blockbuster all-round show, returning with match figures (10-1-34-2) with the ball, and scoring a brilliant century (100 off 94 balls) with the bat, playing a decisive role as the West Indies clinched the three-match ODI series by a 2-0 margin with a game to go.
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