Currently, England is touring Ireland for a limited-overs series, which got underway on September 7. Ireland clinched a nail-biting win over England, their 1st against the visitors in ODIs since 2001 and 2nd overall, in the third and final ODI of the series after chasing down a total of 154 in a rain-affected match.
England elected to bat first in a 25-over contest, which was later reduced to 22 overs, and were bowled out for a total of 153, with Aimee Maguire producing a five-wicket haul. Ireland chased down the total off the last ball of the match with a boundary, also breaking England’s seven-match winning streak in ODIs. The series concluded with the visitors securing a 2-1 ODI series win.
Highlights from the match:
1) Tammy Beaumont (England) [Player of the Series]
The English opener finished as the top run-scorer of the three-match ODI series. Beaumont scored just 10 in the first ODI but delivered remarkable performances in the final two games. In the second ODI, she struck an unbeaten 150 off 139 balls, marking her tenth ODI century. Her innings powered England to a record-breaking 275-run victory over Ireland, earning her the Player of the Match award. In the third ODI, Beaumont scored 52 off 42 balls, including seven boundaries. The experienced batter finished the series with 212 runs, including a century and a fifty, at a dominant average of 106, playing an essential role in England’s ODI series triumph.
2) Aimee Maguire 5/19 (Ireland)
The Irish spinner delivered a bowling masterclass in the third ODI against England. The left-arm spinner had claimed one wicket in each of the first two ODIs, but her five-wicket haul in the third ODI guided Ireland to victory. Her first wicket came through a stumping, dismissing Freya Kemp in the fifteenth over, followed by Paige Scholfield in the same over. Later, she bowled English skipper Kate Cross, and then dismissed Maddy Villiers and Lauren Filer. Aimee Maguire finished with figures of 5/19 (3.5), her best in ODIs, and was named Player of the Match.
3) Gaby Lewis 72 (Ireland)
The Irish skipper found her form in the third ODI, scoring 72 off 56 balls while chasing 154. Lewis was involved in a 51-run stand for the first wicket alongside Amy Hunter before Hunter was dismissed. She then built another 51-run partnership with Leah Paul. Gaby Lewis hit 10 boundaries during her innings, scoring at a strike rate of 128.57.
