In a thrilling 20-over cricket match on Sunday at the Clontarf Cricket Club, Ireland celebrated their initial victory over England, after outperforming in a record run chase. The victory was sealed in the second-to-last delivery following a failed run-out attempt from England’s Mady Villiers, enabling two Ireland batsmen to score an overthrow.
Orla Prendergast notably excelled by securing 80 runs from 51 balls, a personal best, before she was bowled out by Kate Cross in the 19th over’s final delivery. This left Irish needing seven more runs to win from the remaining six balls.
England’s hopes looked brighter when Sarah Forbes hit the boundary in the first delivery, and Villiers dismissed Forbes and Ava Canning in consecutive balls. However, a fielding error helped Ireland to triumph by five wickets with a single delivery left.
Before this, England’s Tammy Beaumont achieved a 40-run score from 34 deliveries – her top score since September 2021. This helped England to reach what seemed an unachievable 169 for eight in their 20 overs, only seven runs short of their victorious Saturday match where they won with 67 runs.
Gaby Lewis, Ireland’s skipper, played a crucial part responding with a 79-run partnership with Prendergast for the second wicket. This impressive performance put England’s bowling side and Kate Cross as captain under substantial strain.
On her T20 debut, nearly a week after getting her ODI cap, Ryana MacDonald-Gay conceded 11 runs in her first over but then bowled a wobble-seam delivery that dispatched Lewis’s middle stump.
Prendergast moved on to a half-century from 39 balls, aided by a second 50-run alliance with Leah Paul. Still, Ireland was needing 42 runs from the final four overs. However, Prendergast successfully smacked Charis Pavely and Georgia Adams for four consecutive boundaries.
Despite England having opportunities to dismiss Paul in the 18th over, these chances were missed by Georgia Adams and Seren Smale, leading to Ireland’s unprecedented win.
Following the win of the coin toss, Ireland once again opted for England to bat first, though openers Beaumont and Bryony Smith began this time at a more subdued rate than their previous 65-run power play on Saturday, this gameplay seeing a 44-run one instead. Building from her half-century on Saturday, Smith showcased her striking lofted drive, coupled with several impactful pulls through midwicket, however, she was caught by Lewis at extra cover, ending her contribution at 28 runs.
Despite this, England gained momentum in the middle innings, with Beaumont finding her rhythm in a swift 50-run partnership with Paige Scholfield, facilitated over merely 27 balls for the third wicket. After her debut on Saturday left her without a score, Scholfield grasped this opportunity to demonstrate her power, sending Freya Sargent’s off-spin back over the head for the innings’ only six.
Their partnership came to an end during the final overs as both were caught while attempting ambitious down-the-ground shots, while Ireland tightened their defence ensuring both Pavely and Issy Wong were ran out in the last over, causing England to finish with eight wickets down.
Prendergast continued to play in the series for Ireland, despite nursing a severe hand injury she got while performing for The Blaze in England during the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. The game experienced a five-minute pause as her injury required treatment. However, her resilience paid off as she bowled Armitage out for a duck and then dislodged Adam’s off-stump in the 19th over.
As the tour ended, England accumulated three wins from five games and gave away six ODI and five T20 caps. However, Ireland, managing a couple of victories against England within five days, has fostered the belief that two decades ought not to pass until England returns to Irish territory. – Guardian