BELFAST – An almost complete team performance saw Ireland Women take the series lead after a 41-run win over Scotland at Stormont today.
Pleasingly for Ed Joyce, the hesitant batting performance in the first game of the series is well behind the Irish side as they compiled a highly competitive 134-8 from their 20 overs.
Shauna Kavanagh continued her good run of form with the bat, following up her 31 yesterday with a 30-ball 37 today, which featured two big sixes. Her timing was supreme today, playing shots with ease through the off and leg side, anchoring the innings with confidence. Her innings only ended LBW aggressively sweeping Katie McGill.
In further good signs for Joyce, all of the top five batters made starts, with the Irish run rate barely dipping below 6 runs an over throughout.
Prendergast again. pic.twitter.com/yL6pDpGg1j
— Ireland Women’s Cricket (@IrishWomensCric) May 26, 2021
In response, the Scottish side faltered early, with Orla Prendergast (2-7) removing both openers bowled through the gate – the second of which knocked the middle stump out of the ground. Prendergast’s Player of the Match performance with the ball wrested away early any hopes that the Scots had of a good start, and she bowled with the pace and control that made scoring difficult.
Yesterday’s hero with the ball Leah Paul grabbed two more wickets today (2-12), and Cara Murray (3-18) impressed with her looping leggies which tempted the Scottish batters into several false shots.
For the Scots, Katherine Bryce hit 45* from 42 balls to keep the visitors hopes alive, but the tail fell away and they finished on 93-9 with Samantha Haggo unable to bat due to an injury.
The series stands at 2-1 to Ireland with one match remaining, and the two sides will return to the same venue at 11am tomorrow.
MATCH SUMMARY
Ireland Women v Scotland Women, 3rd Match, Belfast, 26 May 2021
Ireland 134-8 (20 overs; S Kavanagh 37; M McColl 2-16)
Scotland 93-9 (19 overs; K Bryce 45*; C Murray 3-18, O Prendergast 2-7)
Ireland Women won by 41 runs (Ireland lead series 2-1)
Craig Easdown
Orla Prendergast celebrates a wicket for Ireland
No
Connaught
