The Ireland women’s cricket team has been on a significant rise in recent times, showcasing their growing prowess on the international stage. Their latest achievement was a dramatic last-ball victory over England in Belfast, which marked their first win in a One-Day International against the English side since 2001. This monumental victory not only signaled the team’s resurgence but also came on the heels of another impressive feat – a series victory over Sri Lanka, where they won the ODI series 2-1 and drew the T20I series 1-1 against the reigning Asia Cup champions.
In the thrilling match against England, Ireland held their nerve in a closely contested 3rd ODI in Belfast. The game came down to the final over, with Alana Dalzell striking a boundary off the last ball to secure a dramatic victory. The match’s outcome was swayed by a crucial misfield from England’s Hollie Armitage, who failed to gather the ball at long-on while staring into the sun. Dalzell’s boundary off Mady Villiers’ final over ended the tense affair, which saw Ireland come out on top.
This victory was richly deserved, thanks to several key performances, including a brilliant five-wicket haul by Aimee Maguire. Maguire, just two days after her 18th birthday, claimed figures of 5 for 19, which played a pivotal role in England’s collapse. Gaby Lewis was another standout performer, top scoring for Ireland with a fluent 72 off 56 balls. Her dismissal at 137 for 3 sparked a mini collapse, with Ireland falling to 151 for 7, but Dalzell’s composure under pressure ultimately saw the hosts over the line. Besides Lewis, there were crucial contributions from Leah Paul, who scored 22 off 23 balls, wicketkeeper Amy Hunter with 18 off 18, and Orla Prendergast, who chipped in with 11 off 14 balls.
Post the win, stand-in skipper Gaby Lewis hailed the effort, stating, “It feels great. I think the one thing about this team is that we always bounce back and that shows the character in the group. We were hugely disappointed with our first two performances but to turn that around and come out with a win, we are delighted.”
“We bat so far down, so I felt confident in our batters and Dalzell having the courage to go for it, that shows the team we are, and we’re hugely thrilled with the win,” she concluded.
England, however, had their moments in the series. In the first ODI, Kate Cross, on her captaincy debut, delivered an exceptional performance with the ball, taking six wickets and recording figures of 6 for 30. Her bowling single-handedly dismantled Ireland’s batting lineup, giving England the upper hand in the opening encounter. Despite Cross’s heroics, Ireland fought back valiantly in the series.
In the second ODI, England’s star batter Tammy Beaumont displayed her class with an unbeaten 150 off 139 balls. Beaumont’s century helped England post a daunting total and secure a commanding 275-run victory, which sealed the series win. While Beaumont continued to be England’s standout performer, with 52 off 42 balls in the final game, the rest of the team failed to offer significant support, allowing Ireland to clinch the historic series win.
Ireland’s resurgence isn’t just limited to their performances against England. Earlier in August, they made headlines by becoming the first women’s team to play bilateral series against all full-member nations in women’s international cricket. This milestone was marked by their limited-overs series against Sri Lanka, which began on August 11.
The two sides faced off in a two-match T20I series, followed by a three-match ODI series. The T20I series was shared, with Sri Lanka winning the first match comfortably by 7 wickets, chasing down 146. However, Ireland bounced back emphatically in the second T20I, posting a total of 173 and securing a narrow 7-run win. Gaby Lewis was once again at the forefront of Ireland’s success, scoring a century that guided her team to victory. Lewis’s ton not only helped Ireland level the series but also ended Sri Lanka’s six-match winning streak. Orla Prendergast provided crucial support, scoring 38 off 31 balls and taking two wickets for 28 runs, as her all-round performance was instrumental in Ireland’s resurgence.
The ODI series against Sri Lanka was even more remarkable for Ireland. They achieved their highest-ever ODI chase in the first match of the series, successfully chasing down 261 runs. Orla Prendergast played the innings of her life, scoring an unbeaten 122 off 107 balls, the second-highest score by an Irish woman in ODI cricket.
Prendergast’s heroics with the bat were complemented by her contributions with the ball, as she took 3 wickets for 25 runs, making her the standout performer of the match. Leah Paul also shone with the bat, scoring 81 off 101 balls and earning the Player of the Match award for her crucial role in guiding Ireland to victory in the second ODI. The Irish bowlers played their part as well, with Arlene Kelly (3 for 41), Jane Maguire (2 for 33), Freya Sargent (1 for 46), and Aimee Maguire (1 for 49) all chipping in to restrict Sri Lanka’s batting lineup.
Despite Ireland’s dominance in the series, Sri Lanka managed to avoid a whitewash in the final ODI. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu’s all-round brilliance helped the visitors secure an eight-wicket win. Athapaththu scored 48 off 49 balls and took 3 wickets for 15 runs, ensuring that Sri Lanka ended the series on a high note.
Overall, Ireland’s women’s cricket team has showcased remarkable growth and resilience, with significant victories against two formidable opponents. To date, they have played 123 T20I matches, winning 51 of them, and 179 ODI matches, securing victory in 52. Their achievements reflect the team’s progress and highlight their potential to compete at the highest levels of international cricket. As they continue their upward trajectory, Ireland’s future in women’s cricket looks incredibly promising.
