England Women beat Ireland Women by six wickets in the second ODI at the County Ground in Derby on September 3, taking a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Ireland were bowled out for 165 in 47 overs after England’s bowlers kept taking wickets. England then completed the chase in only 23 overs, finishing on 166 for four with 162 balls remaining. Issy Wong was the standout performer, taking 5 for 33 and earning Player of the Match honours.
England won the toss and chose to field first, and their bowlers made the early pressure count. Alice Tector was run out for three before Wong removed Gaby Lewis for 19 from 33 balls. Amy Hunter then gave Ireland stability with a 64 from 96 balls, including four fours. She reached her fifty from 79 deliveries. However, England continued to take wickets around her and kept Ireland from building the partnerships.
Hunter found support from Orla Prendergast, who scored 25 from 48 balls, while Leah Paul made 23 from 43 deliveries. Rebecca Stokell scored three, Louise Little made two and Cara Murray added nine. Jane Maguire and Kia McCartney made one each, while Georgina Dempsey stayed unbeaten on one. Ireland reached 100 in 28.6 overs and 150 in 41.5 overs but could not finish strongly. They were all out for 165 in the 47th over, with 14 extras.
Wong was the biggest difference between the teams with the ball. She finished with 5 for 33 from 10 overs, including one maiden, and was named Player of the Match. She dismissed Lewis, Hunter, Paul, Little and Murray. Tilly Corteen-Coleman supported her with 2 for 32, while Mady Villiers took 2 for 21. Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Charlie Dean and Dani Gibson went without wickets, but England’s attack kept Ireland from adding enough runs at the end.
England began the chase quickly and reached 50 in 6.6 overs. Maia Bouchier led the attack with 45 from 31 balls, hitting nine fours. Sophia Dunkley made 20 from 21 balls before being run out, while Jodi Grewcock added 24 from 29 balls. Alice Capsey scored one before falling lbw. Ireland took four wickets , but England stayed ahead of the required rate and kept the chase under control.
Ireland’s wicket-takers were Kia McCartney and Cara Murray. McCartney finished with 2 for 45 from six overs, while Murray took 1 for 44 from six overs. Orla Prendergast bowled four overs for 26 runs and Jane Maguire conceded 38 from five overs without a wicket. Georgina Dempsey bowled two overs for 13 runs. After Grewcock’s dismissal left England on 119 for four, Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson took control and finished the chase without trouble.
Kemp stayed unbeaten on 29 from 32 balls, hitting one four and one six, while Gibson struck an unbeaten 36 from just 22 balls, with three fours and two sixes. England moved from 119 for four to 166 for four and reached the target in 23 overs. They had crossed 100 in 14.3 overs and 150 in 21.4 overs. Gibson finished the match in style with a six to seal the win.
England had also won the first ODI in Leicester on September 1 by six wickets, chasing Ireland’s 281 for five with 283 for four in 38.1 overs and 71 balls remaining. England now lead the series once again 2-0, while the third ODI is scheduled for September 6 in Worcester at 3:30 PM and is yet to begin. England will look to complete a 3-0 sweep, while Ireland will hope to respond in the final match.
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