Final result
Ireland Cricket won by 124 runs
Player of the match: A Balbirnie
Result · One-Day Internationals
Ireland Cricket vs West Indies
Result · One-Day Internationals
Venue par · 254Chase success · 60%POTM · A Balbirnie
Match preview & overview
Ireland beat West Indies by 124 runs as Balbirnie century sets up Castle Avenue victory
Ireland beat West Indies by 124 runs in an ODI at Castle Avenue, Dublin, on 21 May 2025. Andy Balbirnie scored 112 off 138 balls after West Indies won the toss and chose to field, anchoring a first-innings total of 303/6. West Indies then collapsed to 35/5 inside the powerplay of their chase and were bowled out for 179, never mounting a serious challenge. Barry McCarthy's 4/32 in 7.2 overs did most of the damage with the ball. Balbirnie was named Player of the Match.
The margin of 124 runs flatters Ireland somewhat in terms of the contest's narrative: it was effectively settled by the halfway point of the West Indies innings. The five-wicket powerplay collapse removed any realistic chance of a chase, and the middle overs, which yielded 144 runs for 5 wickets, amounted to damage limitation rather than a genuine pursuit of 304.
For Ireland, the result offers meaningful encouragement given that West Indies had beaten them twice in completed ODIs earlier in 2025, including a 197-run win at this same ground. Conditions at Castle Avenue suited Ireland's pace bowlers on the day, and their batting throughout all three phases was consistently above the venue's historical averages.
Pitch report & venue insights
Castle Avenue, Dublin — 11-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2019–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
11
T20 matches hosted
254
Avg 1st-innings score
191
Avg 2nd-innings score
60%
Chase success rate
48
Avg powerplay runs
73%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Balbirnie century anchors Ireland's 303/6
Andy Balbirnie's 112 off 138 balls was the cornerstone of Ireland's first-innings total of 303/6 at Castle Avenue. The innings came after West Indies won the toss and chose to field, a decision that backfired significantly. Ireland's middle overs were particularly productive, yielding 166 runs for just 2 wickets between overs 11 and 40.
Angle 02
West Indies bowled out for 179 in a struggling chase
Angle 03
BJ McCarthy's 4/32 wrecked the West Indies top order
Angle 04
Ireland's powerplay discipline set the template
Angle 05
West Indies' recent form a concern ahead of the series
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top Ireland batter markets may be worth monitoring given the depth of their middle-order batting at this ground, where the average first-innings score across 11 matches is 254.
- West Indies' powerplay fragility, five wickets lost inside ten overs in this match, could make bowler performance markets more informative than outright result lines.
- The toss has historically influenced outcomes at Castle Avenue, with teams electing to field in 71% of matches. Toss-related markets may carry more context here than at a neutral venue.
- Ireland's death-overs batting (83 runs from their final phase) and West Indies' collapse before the death overs even began suggest phase-specific markets may diverge significantly from headline result pricing.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Ireland Cricket vs West Indies
Who won the Ireland v West Indies ODI on 21 May 2025?
Ireland won by 124 runs at Castle Avenue in Dublin. They posted 303/6 batting first and bowled West Indies out for 179 in reply. Andy Balbirnie was named Player of the Match for his century.
What did Andy Balbirnie score against West Indies?
Andy Balbirnie scored 112 off 138 balls and was named Player of the Match. His innings was the foundation of Ireland's total of 303/6 and came after West Indies had won the toss and chosen to field.
Where can I watch Ireland v West Indies ODIs in the UK?
Coverage of Ireland and West Indies ODIs is typically available on Sky Sports Cricket, with streaming options through Sky Go and NOW TV. Check the Sky Sports schedule for specific fixture details and UK start times.
What is the head-to-head record between Ireland and West Indies in ODIs?
West Indies lead the head-to-head record, having won 15 of 26 completed meetings. Ireland have won 7, with 4 matches producing no result. West Indies had won the two previous completed ODIs between the sides in 2025 before this Ireland victory.
What happened to West Indies in the powerplay chase at Castle Avenue?
West Indies lost 5 wickets for 35 runs inside the powerplay while chasing 304. That early collapse made any realistic pursuit of the target impossible. Barry McCarthy took 4/32 in 7.2 overs and was the primary architect of the powerplay damage.
What is the average score at Castle Avenue in Dublin?
Across 11 ODI matches at Castle Avenue, the average first-innings score is 254 and the average second-innings score is 191. Ireland's 303/6 in this match was well above the venue's first-innings average, while West Indies' 179 all out was below the typical second-innings return.
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