The Ireland women’s team has shown a lot of promise with impressive performances in patches over the years. However, they are gradually reaping the rewards in terms of consistent and impressive performances at the international level, courtesy of their investment in the game. In this article, we will have a look at some of Ireland’s eye-catching victories against more prominent sides over the years at the international level.
11th Ranked Ireland Women’s team has already conquered Top sides 👏#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/LnTzoZE9yh
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 16, 2024
Vs Pakistan [December 1997 (ODIs), May 2009 (T20Is)]:
The Ireland women’s team led by former skipper Miriam Grealey scripted history when they defeated Pakistan led by former skipper Shaiza Khan by a massive 182 runs margin while defending a target of 243. Chasing the target, Pakistan was bundled out for just 60 runs with 117 balls to spare in Gurgaon. It was their first-ever victory against Pakistan in the ODI format. The historic occasion came in the Women’s World Cup in India, in 1997, adding more significance to their achievement. Catherine O’Neill was awarded the Player of the Match for her brilliant all-round performance. She scored 45 (74 balls) with the bat and returned with exceptional match figures (10-5-10-4) with the ball. She played a pivotal role in helping her side stun Pakistan with a massive victory.
As far as the T20I format is concerned, Ireland led by former skipper Heather Whelan was up against Pakistan led by former skipper Sana Mir in a one-off T20I at Dublin on 25th May 2009. Pakistan’s innings had been curtailed to 15 overs because of rain earlier in the day and were restricted to 80/3 in their quota of 15 overs after skipper Sana Mir won the toss and opted to bat first. Ireland managed to chase down a revised target of 91 with nine wickets in hand and 27 balls to spare to seal a historic victory. It was their maiden victory against Pakistan in the T20I format.
Vs Bangladesh [August 2012 (ODIs), December 2015 (T20Is)]:
Ireland women’s team led by former skipper Isobel Joyce scripted another significant moment in their history. The Isobel Joyce-led side was up against Bangladesh led by former skipper Salma Khatun in a one-off ODI in Dublin on 21st August 2012. The game was reduced to a 45-overs per side contest. Ireland posted a total of 148/6 in their quota of 45 overs after skipper Isobel Joyce won the toss and opted to bat first. Defending a revised target of 156, Bangladesh were bundled out for 94, with 14 balls to spare. As a result, they fell short of the target by 61 runs. It was their maiden victory against Bangladesh in the ODI format.
As far as the T20I format is concerned, the Isobel Joyce-led side was up against Bangladesh led by former skipper Jahanara Alam in the final of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier in Bangkok. Bangladesh posted a total of 105/3 in their quota of overs after skipper Jahanara Alam won the toss and opted to bat first. Chasing a target of 106, Ireland managed to hold their nerve to get over the line with 2 wickets in hand. It was their maiden victory against Bangladesh in the T20I format.
Vs South Africa [August 2016 (ODIs, and T20Is)]:
Ireland women’s team added another glorious chapter to their history. The Laura Delany-led side was up against South Africa led by former skipper Dinesha Devnarain in the 2nd T20I at Dublin on 3rd August 2016 in the two-match T20I series. The former South African skipper Dinesha Devnarain won the toss and opted to field first. After being inserted to bat first, Ireland posted a total of 115/7 in their quota of 20 overs. Chasing a target of 116, South Africa was bundled out for 95, falling short of the target by 20 runs with three balls to spare, sealing a historic victory for the home side. It was their maiden victory against South Africa in the T20I format.
The limited-overs, white-ball home series against South Africa marked another historic moment for Ireland, as far as the ODI format is concerned. The Laura Delany-led side was up against South Africa led by former skipper Dinesha Devnarain in the 4th ODI on 11th August 2016 in the 4-match series at Dublin. The visitors, South Africa were bundled out for 143, with 20 balls to spare after skipper Dinesha Devnarain won the toss and opted to bat first. Chasing a target of 144, the home side, Ireland got over the line comfortably with seven wickets in hand and 83 balls to spare, successfully avoiding a whitewash. It was their maiden victory against South Africa in the ODI format.
Vs Sri Lanka [August 2024 (ODIs and T20Is)]:
The Ireland women’s team continued their rich vein of form at the international level this year. They went on to dominate the Sri Lankans led by the stand-in skipper Anushka Sanjeewani in the recently concluded white-ball, home series. The Laura Delany-led side were 1-0 down in the recently concluded T20I series against Sri Lanka. Ireland posted a massive total of 173/3 in their quota of 20 overs after skipper Laura Delany won the toss and opted to bat first. Opening batter Gaby Lewis’s 2nd T20I century played an instrumental role in Ireland posting a massive total.
Chasing a target of 174, Sri Lanka was restricted to 166/7 in their quota of overs, falling short of the target by seven runs. Gaby Lewis was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning century (119 off 75 balls) with the bat. She played an instrumental role in helping her side level the 2-match T20I series. It was also their maiden victory against Sri Lanka in the T20I format.
In the same series Ireland led by the stand-in skipper Gaby Lewis in the absence of the regular skipper Laura Delany added another historic moment for Ireland cricket as far as the ODIs are concerned. They were up against Sri Lanka led by skipper Chamari Athapaththu in the first ODI on 16th August 2024 in the three-match series at Belfast. The home side was riding high on confidence after their maiden T20I victory against the same opponent earlier in the series.
Ireland skipper Gaby Lewis won the toss and opted to field first in the 1st ODI. After being inserted to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive total of 260/8 in their quota of overs, courtesy of Vishmi Gunaratne’s maiden ODI century. Chasing a target of 261, Ireland got over the line with 3 wickets in hand and four balls to spare. Orla Prendergast’s maiden ODI century played an instrumental role in helping her side get over the line in a historic, their highest-ever run chase in the 1st ODI. Orla Prendergast was awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational all-round performance. She returned with match figures (8-0-25-3) with the ball, a couple of catches in the field, scoring a match-winning (122* off 107 balls) with the bat. It was Ireland’s maiden victory in the ODI format. They also went on to seal their first-ever ODI series victory against Sri Lanka by winning the 2nd ODI of the three-match series.
Vs England [August 2001 (ODIs), September 2024 (T20Is)]:
The Ireland women’s team led by the stand-in skipper Gaby Lewis added another feather to their cap when they defeated the former ODI and T20 World Cup champions, England in both the white-ball formats in the recently concluded home series.
The home side led by skipper Gaby Lewis was up against England led by skipper Kate Cross in the 2nd and final T20I of the series on 15th September 2024 at Dublin. Ireland skipper Gaby Lewis won the toss and opted to field first at Castle Avenue, Dublin. After being inserted to bat first, England posted a total of 169/8 in their quota of overs. Chasing a target of 170, Ireland got over the line with five wickets in hand and one ball to spare. Orla Prendergast was awarded the Player of the Match for her brilliant all-round performances. She returned with match figures (4-0-31-2) with the ball and scored (80 off 51 balls) with the bat. She played a crucial role in helping her side seal a historic victory. It was their maiden victory in the T20I format.
As far as the ODI format is concerned, the Nikki Squire-led Ireland side scripted history by defeating England. Ireland led by former skipper Nikki Squire was up against England led by former skipper Arran Brindle in the 5th match of the European Championship in Reading on 12th August 2001. Former England skipper Arran Brindle won the toss and opted to field first. After being inserted to bat first, Ireland were bundled out for 116 with 35 balls to spare. Chasing a target of 117, England were bundled out for 60 with 78 balls to spare. It was their maiden victory in the format against England.
The Gaby Lewis-led side was up against England led by skipper Kate Cross in a potential dead rubber in the 3rd ODI of the series at Belfast on 11th September 2024. It was a rain-curtailed, 22-overs-per-side encounter. England were bundled out for 153 with seven balls to spare after skipper Kate Cross won the toss and opted to bat first in the 3rd ODI of the series.
Chasing a revised target of 155, the home side Ireland, got over the line with 3 wickets in hand in a last-ball thriller. Aimee Maguire was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning spell (3.5-0-19-5) with the ball. She played a crucial role in helping her side seal a historic victory. It was their 2nd victory in the ODI format against England after August 2001.