Ireland clinched their first-ever women’s Twenty20 international (T20I) win over England with a stunning five-wicket triumph. They scripted a new record in the second T20I of the two-match series held on September 15, Sunday, at the Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin. The game saw Ireland winning the match with just one ball to spare, which means the two-match series ended in a 1-1 draw.
Speaking of the game, Ireland skipper Gaby Lewis won the toss and asked the tourists to bat first. England, who had dominated the series opener with a commanding 67-run win, posted a competitive total of 169/8, with opener Tammy Beaumont top-scoring with 40 off 34 deliveries, including seven boundaries. Paige Scholfield also made a notable contribution, scoring 34 runs in 21 balls. Meanwhile, Orla Prendergast, Arlene Kelly, and Aimee Maguire starred for Ireland, picking up two wickets each.
Ireland women’s victory was particularly impressive given their struggles against some of the giants. According to AFP, they have the ability to bounce back from challenging situations. In a one-day series where they had initially trailed 0-2, including a heavy loss of 275 runs and a dismal 45-run total, Ireland managed to turn the tide and win the third and final ODI in Belfast.
In this T20I against England, Ireland showcased remarkable resilience during the 170-run chase. Despite an early breakthrough from England’s Kate Cross, who dismissed Ireland opener Amy Hunter for just one run, Prendergast led from the front, playing a standout innings. The 22-year-old all-rounder made 80 from 51 balls with the help of 13 boundaries before being dismissed by England skipper Cross in the final delivery of the 19th over. Prendergast’s crucial partnership of 79 runs with captain Gaby Lewis (38) and a further 82-run stand with Leah Paul (27 not out), brought Ireland close to a historic win. Following her departure, Ireland needed seven runs from the last six deliveries.
In the first delivery of the final over, Leah Paul took a single and Sara Forbes scored a boundary off Mady Villiers in the subsequent delivery. As tension mounted, Villiers provided England with a glimmer of hope by dismissing Ava Canning and Forbes with consecutive deliveries, reducing the required runs to just two from as many deliveries. However, the decisive moment came with the penultimate delivery when Christina Coulter Reilly hit the ball back to Villiers. The England off-spinner missed an easy run-out opportunity, leading to an overthrow that sealed Ireland a memorable win and drew the series.
