In an exciting clash at Castle Avenue, Ireland Women secured a memorable 5-wicket win over England Women in the second T20I of the England Women tour of Ireland 2024.
Disciplined bowling keep England batters in check
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Ireland restricted England to 169/8 in their 20 overs, with standout performances from their bowlers. Orla Prendergast and Arlene Kelly were the stars with the ball, each claiming two wickets to keep the England batters in check.
England’s innings was anchored by Tammy Beaumont, who top-scored with 40 off 34 balls, laced with 7 boundaries. Bryony Smith (28 off 26) and Paige Scholfield (34 off 21) also contributed handy runs in the middle order. However, regular breakthroughs by the Irish bowlers, including a disciplined spell from Prendergast (2/31) and Kelly (2/22), ensured England couldn’t build significant momentum in their innings.
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Orla Prendergast leads Ireland to a memorable win
Chasing 170, Ireland got off to a shaky start, losing opener Amy Hunter for just 1 run in the third ball of the innings. But Gaby Lewis and Prendergast turned the tide with a solid 92-run partnership. Lewis played a composed knock of 38 off 35 balls, setting the platform for Prendergast to unleash her power-hitting.
The all-rounder was sensational with the bat, smashing 13 fours in her 80 off 51 balls, anchoring the chase and keeping Ireland on track. Despite a few late hiccups, with quick dismissals of Sarah Forbes and Ava Canning, Prendergast’s brilliance combined with Leah Paul’s steady 27 off 27 ensured Ireland reached the target on the penultimate ball of the match.
Mady Villiers’ efforts (2/31) and Kate Cross (2/29) for England weren’t enough to stop Ireland’s charge. Prendergast was deservedly named Player of the Match for her all-round display, leading Ireland to level the series 1-1. The decider will now be played on Tuesday, September 17, at Castle Avenue, with both teams eager to clinch the series.
Also READ: Aimee Maguire’s brilliant 5-fer helps Ireland avoid clean sweep against England in the Women’s ODI series
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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