Orla Prendergast was named player of the match and the series.
Orla Prendergast starred with bat and ball at Clontarf yesterday as Ireland recorded a five-wicket victory to beat England for the second time in five days and draw the Certa T20 international series 1-1.
After top-scoring with 52 as the Girls in Green were dismissed for 109 and lost Saturday’s first match by 67 runs, Prendergast powered to 80 from 51 balls before she was bowled with her side on the brink of their first T20i victory over England.
What seemed a certain win – seven needed to pass the visitors’ 169-8 from as many balls, with eight wickets in hand – turned into another final-over thriller as two more wickets fell before Ava Canning scrambled the winning two, thanks to an overthrow.
“It was our last game of the summer and after playing some really good cricket we wanted to finish well,” Prendergast said as she received both the player of the match and series awards. “Form is precious and I’m feeling really good at the moment.”
Ireland’s highest successful run chase in a T20 was built on two Prendergast partnerships: the first of 79 with skipper Gaby Lewis, who made 38 from 35 balls, and another of 82 for the third wicket with Leah Paul who was 27 not out when the win was sealed with a ball to spare.
Prendergast, who is bound for Australia this autumn with the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash, also showcased her swing bowling skills with 2-31 from four overs.
Aimee Maguire was another to enhance her reputation over the weekend, the 18-year-old left-arm spinner taking 3-30 on Saturday, followed by 2-32, in the wake of her stunning career-best 5-19 in the ODI victory over England on Wednesday.