AIMEE MAGUIRE made an encouraging debut for Ireland on Saturday night in St Lucia, but her two wickets were not enough to prevent the West Indies completing a six-wicket win in the final match of the one-day international World Championship series.

The 16-year-old left-arm spinner has been tipped for a big future at the top level by her coach Ed Joyce and she showed why, combining with teenage wicketkeeper Amy Hunter for two stumpings as Ireland attempted to defend 203.

“Aimee is improving with every coaching session,” Joyce said. “She looks better every time she has a bowl and I’m really looking forward to seeing what she can do over the years as a left-arm spinner is important in any side.”

That Ireland again passed 200 was almost entirely down to Gaby Lewis carrying her bat for 95 not out - the opener missing the chance to complete a well-deserved century when Cara Murray and Maguire fell to the last two balls of the 50th over. Lewis faced 121 balls and hit eight boundaries.

Orla Prendergast removed first-match centurion Hayley Matthews in the third over of the reply, and Sophie MacMahon claimed the other wicket to fall in the powerplay, before an unbeaten 79 from Stafanie Taylor took the home side to victory with 8.5 overs to spare.

Ireland will now play three T20 internationals against the West Indies, starting on Wednesday, while their male counterparts play Nepal in tomorrow’s seventh-place play-off final at the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe.