Orla Prendergast. Picture: Seb Daly / SPORTSFILE
Ireland lost the first one-day international at Stormont yesterday, as England captain Kate Cross took to her new role with gusto, making career bests with bat and ball.
Orla Prendergast had a strong all-round performance too for Ireland, making 76, including 50 partnerships with Amy Hunter (37) and Leah Paul (33). But from a strong position at 151-3, Gaby Lewis’s side collapsed to 210 all out with Cross taking 6-30.
Prendergast rocked the visitors with two early scalps, but Holly Armitage (44), one of five English debutants, repaired the innings. Ireland had no fresh women but three teenaged bowlers had just 11 caps between them. Freya Sargent and Aimee Maguire picked up wickets as England slipped to 156-6.
But the experience of Cross steadied the ship as she made 38 in an unbroken partnership of 55 to see England home by four wickets.
“We were below par today, but we’ll come back stronger,” said Lewis, with the series continuing tomorrow and Wednesday.