After four successive defeats to Ireland, it was no surprise that the West Indians came back hard in the third game of their ODI series in Clontarf. In a game interrupted by showers, the tourists came out on top by a whopping 197 runs to share the series 1-1.

After Friday’s fireworks, the crowd were entertained by a feast of six-hitting and another stack of records.

West Indies total of 385-7 was the highest made in an ODI on this island, and the third highest score conceded by Ireland. Paul Stirling became the first Irishman to make 6,000 ODI runs, while the nine wickets in the series by Barry McCarthy is the best by an Irish seamer.

Unfortunately for the Pembroke man, he claimed another less desirable record, becoming the first Irishman to concede 100 runs in an innings, 41 of them in the last two overs.

He had started so well, claiming Brandon King for the third time in the series, this time in the first over, and getting Evin Lewis with the total on 31.

But in came Keacy Carty, fresh from his century on Friday, and took up where he left off.

Carty is the first man from the Dutch overseas territory of Sint Maarten to play for West Indies, and has now made three centuries and 96 in his last seven games. He made 170 off 142 balls, hitting 15 fours and 8 sixes.

His innings was twice interrupted by rain breaks, when he was on 53 and 119, but rarely looked troubled, and rode his luck when he was bowled by Liam McCarthy on 150, only for the umpire to signal no ball.

Carty was finally out in the 48th after the previous over had cost Barry McCarthy 28 runs. That over included four sixes, the last of which Carty smashed over long off where the ball hit a TVM television cameraman on the head.

There was initial concern for the man’s welfare, with playing stopping and the Irish physio running the length of the ground to attend to him alongside a Clontarf player with nursing training. After eight minutes the cameraman was able to walk to the groundsmans’ buggy and ferried away for medical attention.

Ireland selected a fourth new cap of the series, all of whom were born and learnt their cricket in South Africa. Jordan Neill bowled five overs for 33, but left the field while injuring his shoulder diving for the ball.

Neill first showed up in Dublin in July 2023, placed by Cricket Ireland at Merrion CC. He played two games (Liam McCarthy was his first scalp) but did not convince the club he deserved more. He was picked to captain the Ireland Under 19s in Loughborough, leading the team to their first win over England.

Eighteen months ago he did his final exams at Rondebosch Boys High School in Cape Town, and fetched up in Belfast the following summer, joining CSNI at Stormont.

The club website heralded him as a player who ‘bowls some very handy off-spin’, but Neill has since been converted into a seam bowler, convincing enough of the Ireland hierarchy to fast-track him to a full international cap, Ireland’s 725th.

Perhaps Heinrich Malan sees something special in the teenager, but his selection is a bit of a snub to the ‘pathways’ system which is supposed to propel youngsters into the team after excelling at youth, interpro and Wolves level.

Neill’s interpro record is 1-153, while he took 3-208 for the Wolves in Abu Dhabi this spring. There are few if any players who had been picked as first change bowler in an international side with just four wickets in 11 matches, at an average over 90.

That may be harsh, and perhaps unkind to a youngster whose day was ruined by injury. But questions must be asked of those who rushed a man from a school-desk in South Africa to an Ireland cap on little more than a hunch.

Neill may yet go on to a successful, long-serving international, but his speedy ascent may prove to be more damaging than had he been allowed progress at his own pace.

Ireland’s innings was delayed by the heaviest shower of the day – reducing their target to 363 in 46 overs at 7.9 per over – but a fired-up Jayden Seales soon uprooted Andy Balbirnie’s stumps with an inswinger.

Paul Stirling took a liking to Matthew Forde’s bowling, and reached the 6,000 run landmark with a pair of sixes, but slashed a thick edge off Seales to slip. He was followed back in the same over by Harry Tector who shouldered arms to a ball that jagged back.

That left young Cade Carmichael and the Instonians batsman looked well attuned to the demands of this level. He hit six 4s, and Alzarri Joseph for six, before reaching 48. A first fifty beckoned, but he becalmed and after nine balls without a run he was bowled by a ball that kept low.

Soon the skies were blue again and smiles back on Caribbean faces. Roston Chase picked up George Dockrell with his first ball, and with two more bowlers joining the injured list and unable to bat (Neill, and hamstrung Josh Little) the last rites were soon coming.