Twitter erupts as Windies thrash Ireland while breaking a few world records

It is a day Windies cricket history will remember for a long time. Two budding cricketers in the Windies ranks managed to put up an overwhelming show against Ireland in Dublin, which helped them register a massive 196-run win. But the talking point of the day was the effort of John Campbell and Shai Hope, who registered the highest opening partnership in ODI cricket.

Ireland’s new ball bowlers did a fantastic job against England just two days ago, where they bundled the Three Lions top order with ease. Yet, they struggled to cope with the attacking intent of the Windies top two, who kept slaughtering them right from the outset. Both openers paced their innings brilliantly with the run-rate consistently being over 7.

After the duo registered a 200-run partnership, both Campbell and Hope got to their respective hundreds in a span of two deliveries. This sums up how equally they were tormenting the Irish bowlers. After becoming the first Windies opening pair to register hundreds in the same game, they next battered Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq’s 304-run opening stand record.

Campbell was dismissed for a 137-ball 179 while Shai Hope contributed a 152-ball 170. This was also the first two in ODI history that two batsmen registered 170+ scores. Windies finished with a gigantic 381 on the board losing three wickets.

Nurse and Gabriel restrict the hosts to under 200

This was never going to be in the reach for Ireland if their swashbuckling opener Paul Stirling wouldn’t give them a good start. But he was dismissed in the second over for a duck, putting his side on the back foot straight away. They lost another couple of wickets in the powerplay and were clearly going to play for pride after that.

Kevin O’Brien though put up a show as he smashed a 77-ball 68. He didn’t get great support from others apart from Gary Wilson and Andrew Balbirnie, who scored 30 and 29 respectively. Once Kevin was dismissed, the game was completely out of hands and the remaining rituals were just a formality.

Ashley Nurse wiped out the tail as Ireland were bundled out for 185 in 34.4 overs. Nurse returned with figures of 4/51 whilst Shannon Gabriel chipped in with a 3/44. It was the most comprehensive start any team could’ve asked for in a Tri-series and this could also be a danger sign for the other teams ahead of the World Cup.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to this record-breaking encounter: