Morgan Topping's unbeaten 66 guided Ireland Academy to a six-wicket win over their West Indies counterparts in the opening match of their three-game 50 overs series in the North West region this week.

On an at times bitterly cold day at Eglinton, the West Indies lost two early wickets to Matthew Foster, with the CSNI paceman striking twice in two balls, finding the extra bounce on the hybrid pitch to his liking.

Matthew Humphreys appeals

Opener Leonardo Julien didn't do much running to warm himself up, thumping 9 fours and 4 sixes in a 61-ball 82 before becoming the first of two wickets for Gavin Hoey's leg-spin.

The Irish attack stuck to their task well, backed up by some excellent catches - Tom Mayes taking two at deep extra cover off Cade Carmichael, whose medium pace was required following Reuben Wilson's (1-31) quad muscle injury that saw him leave the field after bowling four overs.

Mayes also got two wickets, including the final one to fall, as the Windies were bowled out for 224.

The Irish opening pair of Jake Egan (38) and Chris De Freitas (25) survived the testing opening barrage of 'chin music' from the Windies quartet of paceman, and although they certainly enjoyed several moments of good fortune their stand of 60 laid  a perfect platform for their team.

Morgan Topping proved the batting hero, as he again enjoyed early fortune, before going through the gears finding fluency, timing and power as the game progressed.

Morgan Topping

His fourth wicket stand of 71 in 13 overs with Scott Macbeth was a match-defining one, with Brigade all-rounder Macbeth showing his power by launching four sixes into the car park and beyong in a quickfire 42 from 37 balls that also included two fours.

Six for Scott Macbeth

Kian Hilton (18*) then joined Topping, with the Waringstown batsman assming control of the race to the finishing line, upping the ante as he hit 5 fours and cleared the ropes three times in his unbeaten 66 - their stand of 50 coming in just five overs as the six-wicket win came in the 47th over.

The teams will meet at Bready on Wednesday in the second game - brought forward 24 hours due to the weather forecast on Thrusday. Action gets underway at 10:45am.