In a thrilling turn of events, the Ireland women’s cricket team achieved a dramatic last-ball victory over England in a one-day international (ODI) match on Wednesday. This victory marks Ireland’s first ODI win over England in 23 years, a significant milestone in their cricketing history.
The match summary
England’s recent dominance had been evident when they demolished Ireland at the same venue just a few days earlier, dismissing the hosts for a mere 45 runs. However, in a rain-affected third ODI, Ireland managed to turn the tables. Chasing a modest target of 154, Ireland reached 155/7 in a nail-biting finish, despite losing crucial wickets in the last over.
Rain played a crucial role, reducing the match to 22 overs per side. England, batting first, were restricted to 153 all out, despite a resilient 52 from Tammy Beaumont. Ireland’s bowlers, led by Aimee Maguire’s impressive 5-19, restricted the English side effectively.
The most memorable moment came in the final over when Ireland needed eight runs to win. With three wickets lost in the over, it seemed England was poised to complete a series sweep. However, Alana Dalzell’s decisive four off the last ball sealed a historic win for Ireland, a thrilling climax to a rain-affected ODI.
Key moments of the match
Ireland’s captain played a pivotal role, scoring 72 runs before being dismissed in the 19th over. Her innings was crucial in setting up the chase.
Maguire’s exceptional bowling performance with figures of 5-19 was instrumental in limiting England’s total.
Despite England’s loss, Beaumont’s 52 off 42 balls was a standout contribution in their innings.
Post-match reactions
Ireland’s captain, Gaby Lewis, expressed pride in her team’s resilience and positive spirit despite earlier defeats.
“We just tried to keep the camp in positive spirits,” Ireland captain Gaby Lewis, who made 72 before falling in the 19th over, told the BBC.
“Cricket’s hard sometimes and obviously playing against top-quality nations, these kinds of defeats are going to happen, but I think it’s the way we can bounce back and I think we did that brilliantly.”
England’s stand-in skipper, Kate Cross, acknowledged Ireland’s superior performance on the day, reflecting sportsmanship and recognition of the game’s unpredictability.
“It’s been three good games of cricket. Credit to Ireland, I thought they were the better side today,” said stand-in England skipper Kate Cross.
Historical significance
Ireland’s win is historic, being their first ODI victory over England in over two decades. This result not only highlights the growth of Irish cricket but also serves as a benchmark for future series against top-ranked teams.
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