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Ireland Women found the going tough once again against a very strong England XI in Abu Dhabi, losing by seven wickets.
Ireland Women found the going tough once again against a very strong England XI in Abu Dhabi, losing by seven wickets.

Gaby Lewis top scored with 36, sharing a 6th wicket stand of 31 with Amy Kenealy (21), as making first use of the track, Ireland battled after an early collapse to reach 97 for 5.

However, the dismissal of Kenealy – who made her top score in Irish colours – run out after the bowler deflected a Lewis drive onto the stumps – sparked a collapse which saw five wickets tumble for 9 runs as the Girls In Green were dismissed for 106.

Beth Langston (3-14), Natalie Sciver (2-14) and Laura Marsh (2-27) were the main wicket takers for England.

It was agreed that England would chase a revised total of 240 in 40 overs, but their powerful batting line-up made short work of the target.

Tammy Beaumont (63), Amy Jones (51) and Fran Wilson (50) all scored half centuries as they reached the adjusted total with seven wickets and almost nine overs to spare.

There was a champagne moment as Leinster debutant Sophie MacMahon claimed her first international wicket, while Shauna Kavanagh celebrated her first spell for Ireland in almost three years by picking up the wickets of Beaumont and Wilson.

Ireland top scorer Gaby Lewis refelected on the day and admitted the team found the match very challenging.

“It was a very tough day at the office,” said the 16 year-old YMCA all-rounder. “We found it hard to get runs, it was difficult to find the gaps, but I stuck around while the wickets were falling.

“It’s something to build on for the next game. You can’t help but learn playing against players of this calibre.”

Ireland’s next game is on Friday when they play the third match in the series against the England XI before jetting to South Africa where they will take part in a Quadrangular Series against the hosts, Zimbabwe and India.

At The Sheikh Zayed Stadium,

Ireland Women 106-10 (40.1 overs; G Lewis 36, A Kenealy 21, B Langston 3-14, N Sciver 2-13, L Marsh 2-27)

England XI 245-3 (31.3 overs; T Beaumont 63, A Jones 51, F Wilson 50, S Kavanagh 2-45, S MacMahon 1-19)

England win by 7 wickets after teams agreed target of 240 in 40 overs.

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