PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Former champions Windward Islands crashed out of the Regional Super50 limited overs competition, losing their third straight match in the preliminary round to Ireland by 64 runs at the Queen’s Park Oval here Friday evening.

Chasing a victory target of 180, the Windwards folded for 115 in 35 overs with opener Tyrone Theophile, 27, the only batsman getting past 20. Andre Fletcher hit 19 and middle order batsman Dalton Polius contributed 17 before being one of three victims to man-of-the-match George Dockrell.

The Windwards were in early tatters losing Johnson Charles with just two runs on the board, spooning a catch to Dockrell at short mid-wicket with one run to his name. Their most experienced batsman Andre Fletcher was out caught at short third man for 19, cutting at Dockrell, who also accounted for Theophile, who was trapped leg before wicket.

The Windwards were in deeper trouble when their most productive batsman for the competition Keddy Lesporis edged Max Sorensen to Kevin O’Brien at second slip without scoring.

The run out of Romel Currency, 12, and Mervin Mathew for no score later in the innings ensured the Windwards’ steady procession of batsmen back into the pavilion, their last five wickets falling for 29 runs.

Ireland won the toss and batted first. They, too, lost wickets at regular intervals and never gained momentum during their innings.

Niall O’Brien topscored with 44, which included two fours and one six. He was stumped by wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher off Dalton Polius playing his first match of the competition. By then Ireland had laboured to 116 for six.

Stuart Thompson tried to rally the lower order before being trapped lbw trying to sweep at Liam Sebastien when on 32. Thompson’s departure left Ireland 154 for seven. Ireland’s top order again failed to fire, Paul Stirling was the first to go, caught by Keddy Lesporis at slip as he tried to cut the medium pace of Craig Emmanuel.

Captain William Porterfield’s lean run in the competition continued lofting Delorn Johnson to Romel Currency for just three runs. He was the first of three wickets to fall to the left-arm seamer. Johnson also sent back Kevin O’Brien, who played on attempting a cut while on 10, and Andrew McBrine, who was caught by Emmanuel on the deep fine leg boundary for six.

Johnson finished with three for 25 and captain Liam Sebastien picked up two for 36 off 10 overs.