As the Ireland Women’s cricket team faced Zimbabwe in the 1st ODI of the series on 26th July 2025, in the ongoing historic white-ball series on home soil, all eyes were on their dynamic all-rounder, Orla Prendergast. Just 48 runs shy (before the game) of reaching a significant milestone, 1,000 ODI runs, Prendergast’s journey is a testament to her resilience and burgeoning talent, making her one of the standout performers of Irish women’s cricket.
At just 23 years old, Orla Prendergast has established herself as a vital cog in Ireland’s batting and bowling lineup. Since her international debut in T20Is on 8th August 2019 against Netherlands in Deventer, Prendergast has steadily made her mark. Her ODI debut came a little over two years later, on 5th October 2021, against Zimbabwe at Harare, a fitting venue given the current series.
To date, Orla has amassed 1,002 runs in 40 ODI matches across formats, with 37 innings in the format. She boasts an impressive average of 30.36 and a decent strike rate of 75.18 in batting. Her run tally includes four half-centuries and a memorable century, underscoring her ability to anchor innings as well as accelerate when needed.
Prendergast’s career-best innings came on 16th August 2024, during the first ODI against Sri Lanka at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, Belfast. She produced an unbeaten 122 runs off 107 balls, an innings packed with patience and power, featuring 10 boundaries and two sixes. Her knock was crucial in steering Ireland to a competitive total and eventually a victory. For her stellar all-round performance, she was rightly named Player of the Match, a moment that remains etched in the memories of Irish cricket fans.
Under the captaincy of Gaby Lewis, the Ireland women’s team is currently hosting Zimbabwe for a white-ball extravaganza from 20th to 28th July 2025. The series holds particular significance as it is Zimbabwe’s first tour of Ireland for a white-ball series, comprising three T20Is and two ODIs. The Irish side has been in scintillating form, dominating the T20I series with wins by six wickets, 65 runs, and 51 runs respectively, completing a comprehensive 3-0 whitewash.
As the focus shifts to the two-match ODI series starting on 26th July, Prendergast’s prominent milestone added an extra layer of excitement. She crossed the 1,000-run landmark in style with a boundary on the first ball of the 41st over of the innings, bowled by Nomvelo Sibanda in the 1st ODI at Belfast. She eventually completed her 4th ODI half-century (50 off 53 balls) before getting dismissed in the 43rd over of the innings. She is one of Ireland’s premier run-scorers in women’s ODIs, an achievement that enhances her already impactful international career.
Prendergast’s value to the team extends beyond her batting prowess. Her ability to contribute with the ball and in the field makes her a true all-rounder, a role that Ireland has successfully harnessed under Lewis’s leadership. As Irish women’s cricket continues its upward trajectory, players like Prendergast embody the blend of youthful energy and skill essential to challenging more established international sides.
Looking ahead, if Prendergast’s current form during this historic home series is anything to go by, the 23-year-old youngster crossing the 1,000 ODI runs mark, not just a personal landmark but also a beacon for Ireland’s ambitions on the world stage.
As Orla Prendergast continues to get better, fans and cricket enthusiasts eagerly await witnessing the 23-year-old all-rounder rise to the next level and continue to cement her place among Ireland’s cricketing elite. With the ODI series underway and her rising stature, the future looks exceptionally bright for this burgeoning talent.
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