West Indies' Matthew Forde equals fastest ODI half-century record before rain earns Ireland share of spoils at Clontarf
All-rounder Forde launched a sensational assault on the Ireland attack, smashing eight sixes — several into the nearby gardens — as he reached the mark from 16 balls, a feat only previously achieved by South African batter AB de Villiers.
Josh Little suffered the brunt of the brutality, being hit for four maximums in one over as the Windies tail took full advantage of the small boundaries at Castle Avenue to plunder 98 from the final six overs and post a mighty 352-8.
Liam McCarthy was the pick of the Ireland attack, again bowling with good pace and claiming his first international wicket in his second match when he found an edge from West Indian captain Shai Hope.
The Railway Union speedster also had Keacy Carty caught behind for 102 and ended Forde's rampage on 58 by knocking out his leg stump with a yorker, as he returned figures of 3-66.
Rain then prevented the start of the reply, allowing the Boys in Green to escape with a share of the spoils and take a 1-0 lead into Sunday's final game of the series.
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The Irish Sun
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Having failed to qualify for the last four major tournaments, Hallgrimsson will be under pressure to lead Ireland to the 2026 World Cup. He will have his work cut out, with the Boys in Green drawn in a tricky UEFA Group F alongside Portugal, Hungary and Armenia. Since taking over in July 2024, the Icelandic coach has overseen a steady improvement, guiding Ireland to four wins in six since a shaky start. Now, he'll be hoping to extend that run of improved form with positive performances against Senegal and Luxembourg during this international window. Hallgrimsson is likely to be without Seamus Coleman for the match - the skipper is still recovering from injury and is unlikely to be risked. The Irish head coach is also likely to experiment at some point with the uncapped John Joe Patrick Finn, Josh Keeley, Killian Phillips and Josh Honohan all included in the squad. Senegal poses a significant threat. The Lions of Teranga are unbeaten in their last 14 matches. The run includes 10 wins and four draws and sees them firmly in the mix to qualify for the 2026 World Cup from CAF Group B, where they sit second in the table with 12 points from six matches. Pape Thiaw's side don't have the services of Sadio Mane to call upon this Friday. But many Premier League fans will recognise Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson and Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr, who are likely to be a part of Senegal's front three. READ MORE SUN STORIES Ireland vs Senegal betting tips Despite having the home comforts of the Aviva Stadium in their favour, Heimir Hallgrimsson's Ireland team are the underdogs. Find out if they can prove the bookies wrong in our Republic of Ireland vs Senegal match betting tips below: Senegal to win or draw and BTTS Unfortunately for Republic of Ireland fans, Senegal boast a strong squad with several members regularly playing at the highest level of European football, including the Premier League. As a result, we don't see the visitors losing. 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About the author Craig Mahood Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun. Responsible gambling A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry, or depressed Problem gambling – Gamble Aware – Help with gambling addiction If you have a problem with gambling, or you know someone who does, help is out there. 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Irish Daily Mirror
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