West Indies, Ireland face off

West Indies easily maintain their perfect record in the Supreme Ventures Sports Betting Jamaica Cricket Festival yesterday by defeating Ireland by six wickets under the Duckworth/Lewis system at Sabina Park.



Set a revised target of 213 off 45 overs following rain, West Indies got to the target with six balls remaining.



Ramnaresh Sarwan led West Indies to victory with 100 not out off 119 deliveries, his fourth One Day International century.



Narsingh Deonarine supported with a well-played 57 off 49 balls, while Darren Bravo scored 28 not out off 36 balls and Wavell Hinds 20 off 52 deliveries.



The Caribbean side was struggling on nine for two off 5.2 overs replying to Ireland’s total of 219 when the rain came and as a result the Duckworth/Lewis calculation was used to set a revised target.



Earlier, Dave Bernard Junior picked up three wickets for 32, Sulieman Benn two for 29 and Ravi Rampaul two for 54 to restrict Ireland to 219 all out off their allotted 50 overs.



West Indies will now focus on the remaining two games of the festival against Ireland, both 20/20 encounters. Those games will take place on Saturday and Sunday at Sabina Park.



The teams are using the festival to prepare for the April 30 to May 16 20/20 World Cup in the Caribbean.