After Maddy Villiers was run out, the hosts easily won by five wickets. They needed seven runs to win off the last over and then two runs from two balls. Christina Coulter Reilly struck the winning runs. After the teams drew a two-match Twenty20 International series 1-1 in Dublin, the tourists won the ODI series in Belfast 2-1 to round up their tour of Ireland.
Like the first Twenty20 International on Saturday, Ireland won the toss and saw England get off to a fast start at bat. Before Arlene Kelly dismissed the former in the seventh over, Bryony Smith and Tammy Beaumont shared a 44-run partnership for the first wicket. With 44, Beaumont led England in scoring. Paige Scholfield (34) and Georgia Adams (23) also contributed to the team’s total of 169-8. For the hosts, Arlene Kelly (2-22) had the best numbers, with two runouts coming from Orla Prendergast (2-31) and Aimee Maguire (2-32).
After losing Amy Hunter in the opening over of the reply for one, Ireland’s captain Gaby Lewis and Prendergast worked incredibly well together to finish the Powerplay at 46-1. For the second wicket, the two put on a 79-run partnership until Lewis was dismissed for 38 off 35 balls. Ireland was 81-2 at that point and needed another 89 off 53. Prendergast maintained her stellar performance throughout the tour, reaching her second half-century in a matter of days with just 39 deliveries.
DUBLIN: Today in Clontarf, Ireland Women created history by triumphing in a T20 International versus England Women for the first time
Prendergast received outstanding assistance from Leah Paul (27*), and the two combined for 50 runs, leaving Ireland needing 25 from the last 18 balls and then 18 from 12. With the last delivery of the 19th, Prendergast was bowled by England captain Kate Cross for 80, her best score in Twenty20 Internationals, ending her fantastic innings.
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With seven needed from the last over, Ireland lost two wickets in quick succession after taking five from the opening two balls, until Coulter Reilly struck a thrilling winning stroke from the penultimate ball. Ireland Women’s historic triumph over England Women in the T20Is was also their first-ever win in any format at Clontarf.