The opening match of the Cricket Ireland Women’s T20 Super Series 2026 in Wicklow turned into an entertaining contest as Dragons Women produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat Typhoons Women by 41 runs. The game featured fluent stroke play, important middle-order partnerships, and disciplined bowling efforts, making it a complete T20 spectacle for fans following women’s domestic cricket in Ireland.
After being asked to bat first, Dragons Women started brightly with Sophie Reid and Alana Dalzell setting the tone early. The pair looked aggressive from the beginning and punished anything loose from the Typhoons’ bowlers. Their opening partnership added 82 runs in just 8.2 overs and immediately pushed the momentum in the Dragons’ favour. Dalzell played a stylish hand of 31 runs from 22 balls, striking five boundaries at a strike rate above 140 before Aisling Lawlor broke the stand. Sophie Reid, however, continued to dominate the innings with confident strokeplay through the off side and clever placement against the spinners.
The momentum continued when Captain Orla Prendergast joined Reid in the middle. The duo stitched together a vital 77-run partnership for the second wicket, keeping the scoreboard ticking at a rapid pace. Reid eventually departed for a superb 61 off 40 deliveries after being run out by Lara Maritz, but by then the foundation had already been laid. Prendergast ensured the innings did not slow down, attacking Kia McCartney and Ellie McGee with authority. The skipper smashed 40 runs from only 26 balls, including four boundaries and a six, before McCartney removed her in the 17th over. Leah Paul chipped in with a useful 16 off 16 deliveries, while Sarah Forbes added a quick 9 from seven balls late in the innings. Abbi Harrison remained unbeaten on 14 from nine deliveries and Annabel Squires stayed not out on 1 as Dragons Women finished strongly on 189/5 in their 20 overs.
The Typhoons Women’s bowling effort had mixed phases throughout the innings. Kia McCartney and Aisling Lawlor picked up one wicket each, while Ellie McGee also claimed an important scalp. Georgina Dempsey bowled with decent control, returning figures of 1/24 from her three overs. Jane Maguire started steadily with 2 overs for 15 runs, but Alice Tector and Louise Little found it difficult to contain the aggressive batting lineup. Extras also hurt the Typhoons campaign, with Dragons receiving 17 additional runs through wides, byes, and leg byes.
Chasing a challenging target of 190, Typhoons Women began positively despite losing Louise Little after a promising start. Little scored 37 runs from 36 deliveries, including three boundaries and a six, helping the side stay in touch with the required rate during the powerplay. Rebecca Stokell then produced the standout batting display for Typhoons Women. The skipper attacked confidently and shared useful partnerships with Alice Tector and Lara Maritz. Stokell struck 45 runs from just 32 balls with five boundaries and kept the chase alive heading into the middle overs.
The second wicket partnership between Stokell and Tector added valuable runs before Lara McBride provided the breakthrough, dismissing Tector for 13. Lara Maritz then joined the captain and played an enterprising knock of 25 from 22 deliveries. Their stand kept Typhoons in the hunt, but Dragons Women gradually tightened the pressure with disciplined bowling and sharp fielding. A key moment arrived when Stokell fell at 91/2 in the 10.4th over, followed by the dismissal of Louise Little at 87 earlier in the innings. The required run rate kept climbing, and regular wickets prevented Typhoons from building sustained momentum.
Christina Coulter Reilly managed only 4 before Freya Sargent removed her, while Lara Maritz’s run out in the final over ended any realistic hopes of a comeback. Georgina Dempsey remained unbeaten on 8, and Aisling Lawlor added 6 not out from four balls, but Typhoons Women closed on 148/5 from their 20 overs.
The Dragons Women’s bowling unit delivered an impressive collective effort. Lara McBride emerged as the most successful bowler with figures of 2/27 from four overs, dismissing both Alice Tector and Louise Little at crucial stages. Freya Sargent also picked up a wicket and conceded only 26 runs from her spell. Cara Murray gave away 35 runs but struck an important blow by removing Rebecca Stokell, while Orla Prendergast bowled economically despite going wicketless. Arlene Kelly and Alana Dalzell supported well in the middle overs, ensuring Typhoons never fully accelerated during the chase.
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