Ireland Women produced a disciplined all-round performance to register a convincing six-wicket victory over West Indies Women in Group 2 of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Bristol. Chasing a competitive target of 129, Ireland reached 129/4 in 18.1 overs, finishing the contest with 11 balls to spare, thanks to an outstanding all-round display from Orla Prendergast, who claimed 1/29 in four overs before anchoring the chase with a superb 63 off 44 balls.
Winning the toss and batting first, West Indies Women looked to build a solid platform through Qiana Joseph and captain Hayley Matthews. Joseph started positively by striking two boundaries in her brisk 8 off 6 balls, but her innings ended in the very first over when she was caught by Paul off Aimee Maguire, leaving the score at 8/1. Matthews attempted to rebuild alongside wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbelle, and the pair added 19 runs for the second wicket. However, Campbelle’s stay lasted only four deliveries as she made 4 off 4 before Arlene Kelly found an edge that was safely taken by Amy Hunter, reducing West Indies to 27/2 in 2.4 overs.
Captain Hayley Matthews continued to fight despite losing partners regularly. Alongside Stafanie Taylor, she stitched together a valuable 23-run partnership for the third wicket, helping settle the innings after the early setbacks. Taylor consumed 26 deliveries for her 16 runs, trying to anchor the innings before she was dismissed by Orla Prendergast, who induced a catch for Aimee Maguire with the score moving to 50/3 in 8.1 overs. Matthews then found another capable partner in Deandra Dottin, and the experienced duo added 22 runs for the fourth wicket. Matthews’ patient knock ended on 22 from 25 balls, including three boundaries, when Cara Murray trapped her through a catch by Rebecca Stokell, leaving West Indies at 72/4.
The innings briefly gathered momentum as Deandra Dottin and Chinelle Henry combined aggressively during a 23-run fifth-wicket partnership. Dottin struck 21 from 28 balls with three boundaries before she became Cara Murray’s second wicket, caught by Jane Maguire, as West Indies slipped to 95/5 in 15.5 overs. Shortly afterwards, Jahzara Claxton managed 4 off 3 balls, sharing a quick 6-run stand with Henry before falling to Arlene Kelly, making it 101/6. The closing overs saw Chinelle Henry provide the much-needed acceleration. She remained unbeaten on 27 off 21 deliveries, hitting three boundaries at a strike rate of 128.57, while Jannillea Glasgow contributed 7 off 7 during a 20-run seventh-wicket partnership before becoming Aimee Maguire’s second victim. In the final over, Aaliyah Alleyne added a handy unbeaten 5 off 2 balls as West Indies posted 128/7 in their 20 overs, with 14 extras also helping the final score.
Ireland’s bowling unit displayed excellent discipline throughout the innings, ensuring that West Indies never completely broke free. Aimee Maguire led the attack brilliantly with figures of 2/22 from four overs, striking in both the opening over and at the death while maintaining an economy of 5.50. Cara Murray was equally impressive, finishing with 2/13 in four overs, producing the most economical spell of the innings and removing both Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin at crucial stages. Orla Prendergast chipped in with 1/29, dismissing the dangerous Stafanie Taylor, while Arlene Kelly returned 1/34 by removing Shemaine Campbelle and Jahzara Claxton. Jane Maguire also picked up 1/28, accounting for Jannillea Glasgow, ensuring every frontline bowler contributed to restricting West Indies to a chaseable total.
Ireland’s chase began steadily but not without early setbacks. Opener Amy Hunter and captain Gaby Lewis put together a measured 26-run opening partnership, ensuring a controlled start before Lewis departed for 9 off 11 balls, caught by Hayley Matthews off Ashmini Munisar. Hunter continued to anchor the innings and found the perfect partner in Orla Prendergast. Together they added a crucial 62 runs for the second wicket, effectively shifting the momentum towards Ireland. Hunter compiled a patient 28 from 32 deliveries, including a boundary and a six, before she was dismissed by Aaliyah Alleyne, leaving Ireland comfortably placed at 88/2 in 12.6 overs.
With the platform firmly established, Orla Prendergast took charge of the chase. She played confidently against both pace and spin, finding regular boundaries while rotating the strike effectively. Alongside Rebecca Stokell, she added 20 runs for the third wicket, taking Ireland closer to the target. Stokell remained composed throughout, contributing an unbeaten 16 off 15 balls with two boundaries. Prendergast’s magnificent innings eventually ended on 63 off 44 balls, caught by Deandra Dottin off Hayley Matthews after smashing eight fours and two sixes, but by then Ireland required only a handful of runs with the score reading 108/3 in 15.2 overs.
West Indies briefly sensed an opening when Leah Paul fell for 4 off 4 balls, dismissed by Aaliyah Alleyne, after adding 9 runs with Rebecca Stokell for the fourth wicket. However, there was never any real panic in the Irish camp. Louise Little joined Stokell and the pair calmly knocked off the remaining runs through an unbeaten 12-run fifth-wicket partnership. Little remained not out on 4 from 3 deliveries, while Stokell finished unbeaten on 16, guiding Ireland to 129/4 in 18.1 overs and sealing their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup win by six-wicket victory with 11 deliveries remaining.
West Indies’ bowlers had moments of success but were unable to consistently apply pressure after Prendergast settled in. Ashmini Munisar returned the best figures with 2/28 in four overs, dismissing Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul while maintaining control during the middle overs. Hayley Matthews claimed 1/25 in four overs, including the prized wicket of Orla Prendergast, whereas Aaliyah Alleyne finished with 0/23 from 3.1 overs by removing Amy Hunter. Afy Fletcher contributed 1/29 in her four overs, while Qiana Joseph bowled three overs for 24 runs without taking a wicket. Despite the individual breakthroughs, the bowling attack struggled to contain Ireland’s partnerships, particularly the decisive second wicket stand that ultimately dictated the outcome.
Loves all things female cricket