West Indies batsman Keacy Carty should have been basking in the full glory of his third and second consecutive One Day International (ODI) hundred as West Indies post a mammoth 385-7 in a bid to level the series against Ireland in Dublin.
Having lost the first ODI and with the second encounter getting washed out, it was a must-win encounter for West Indies, and they ended up hammering 385/7 in 50 overs.
Keacy Carty smoked 170 off 142 deliveries – the joint-sixth highest for West Indies in ODIs. Meanwhile, Shai Hope (75-ball 75) and Justin Greaves (23-ball 50) also slammed fifties.
His previous hundred, an unbeaten 128 against England in Barbados, is part of a high point in Carty’s growing ODI career. But this latest innings, though statistically impressive, left something to be desired emotionally.
In Friday Carty said post-match
The West Indies entered the second ODI eager to respond after a lacklustre performance with the bat in the series opener, which they lost by 124 runs. Carty said the team regrouped quickly and made necessary adjustments.
“We planned on how to counteract what they were doing to us, for our respective skills as batters. Everyone plays differently, so we had a few methods that we went through in training to see what works best for who, and we applied that today (Friday),” he explained.
Carty’s measured start gave way to a more aggressive display once he reached his half-century. His ability to change gears mid-innings was evident and instrumental to building momentum.
“We all know it’s difficult to start, so the toughest thing is just to try and get in and then excel in your innings. I would have liked to push on a bit earlier, but it’s a tough pitch, so you just had to stick with it and trust your skills,” Carty shared.
Interestingly, Carty’s form in ODIs has been one of the few consistent pillars in an otherwise unpredictable West Indies setup.
He finished 2024 as one of the team’s leading ODI run scorers with 560 runs, and he has already started 2025 with another milestone knock.
“I would definitely credit it to my preparation,” he said when asked about the transformation in his white-ball game.
“I’m focusing on the key specifics that you need to excel in ODI cricket, both for myself and for the team, and just trusting the process,” he added.