DUBLIN – Ireland Women made history by winning a T20 International against England Women for the first time in Clontarf today.
Needing seven for victory off the final over and then two runs from two balls, Christina Coulter Reilly hit the winning runs as Mady Villiers’ run-out attempt allowed the hosts to scamper to the win by five wickets.
The match wrapped up the England tour of Ireland, with the tourists winning the ODI series in Belfast 2-1, prior to the sides drawing a two match T20I series 1-1 in Dublin.
Similar to the opening T20I on Saturday, Ireland won the toss and watched England make a bright start with the bat after being put in. Bryony Smith and Tammy Beaumont made 44 for the first wicket before Arlene Kelly removed the former in the seventh over.
Beaumont top scored for England with 44, then Paige Scholfield (34) and Georgia Adams (23) chipped in to post a total of 169-8. Arlene Kelly (2-22) returned the best figures for the hosts, while Orla Prendergast (2-31) and Aimee Maguire (2-32) contributed a pair of run outs.
Ireland lost Amy Hunter in the first over of the reply for one, but captain Gaby Lewis combined superbly with Prendergast to reach the end of the Powerplay at 46-1. The pair put on a 79-run stand for the second wicket until Lewis was bowled for 38 from 35 balls.
At that stage Ireland were 81-2, requiring a further 89 off 53. Prendergast continued her excellent form of the tour, bringing up a second half-century in as many days – this time from only 39 deliveries.
Leah Paul (27*) added excellent support to Prendergast, and the pair passed 50 runs together that left Ireland requiring 25 from the final 18 balls and then 18 from 12.
Prendergast’s excellent innings came to an end with the final ball of the 19th, bowled by England captain Kate Cross for 80 (her highest score in T20Is).
Requiring seven from the final over, Ireland took five from the first two balls before losing two wickets in succession prior to Coulter Reilly’s dramatic winning stroke from the penultimate ball.
The historic result was Ireland Women’s first T20I victory against England Women and their first win at Clontarf in any format.
MATCH SUMMARY
Ireland Women v England Women, 2nd T20I, Clontarf Cricket Club, Dublin, Ireland – 15 September 2024
England 169-8 (20 overs; T Beaumont 40, P Scholfield 34; A Kelly 2-22, O Prendergast 2-31, A Maguire 2-30)
Ireland 170-5 (19.5 overs; O Prendergast 80, G Lewis 38, L Paul 27*; K Cross 2-29, M Villiers 2-31)
Ireland won by five-wickets
See full scorecard