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Ireland Women triumph over Sri Lanka in thrilling 1st ODI at Stormont

Ireland Women vs Sri Lanka Women

©Cricket Ireland

By Cricket World

Friday 16 August 2024

Sri Lanka Women tour of Ireland

1st ODI, Belfast

Ireland Women won by 3 wickets

Ireland Women261/7

Sri Lanka Women260/8

Scorecard

Stats

Orla Prendergast played a key role in Ireland Women's thrilling three-wicket win against Sri Lanka Women in the opening ODI of the series. Her strategic chase ensured a victorious start for Ireland in the three-match competition.

Match Summary

Ireland Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 1st ODI

Ireland Women 261/7 (49.2 ov)

Sri Lanka Women 260/8 (50 ov)

Ireland Women won by 3 wickets

SCORECARD

Match Analysis

With a slight autumnal chill at the finish, Orla Prendergast masterminded an epic run chase to beat Sri Lanka Women by three wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series.

The day began with Alice Tector receiving her first cap in a moving ceremony on the pitch with family present as speeches were made.

Not long after, Orla Prendergast had ball in hand as Ireland won the toss and elected to bowl first. It turned out to be a cunning move from stand-in skipper Gaby Lewis as Prendergast removed Sri Lanka star batter and captain Chamari Athapaththu.

Alana Dalzell also saw the end of Harshitha Samarawickrama but thereafter found it harder in the middle overs.

Ireland’s bowlers continued to chip away throughout, but were able to make a final push with Prendergast claiming a career-best 3-25. But that wouldn’t be her last trick of the day.

In their pursuit of 261, Ireland made a watchful start to the chase. However, the crucial task was going to be keeping up with the required run rate.

Re-enter Orla Prendergast. She worked hard with Amy Hunter, Rebecca Stokell and Arlene Kelly to form key partnerships and get back into the chase.

All the while, Prendergast started moving through the gears – first getting to a remarkable hundred and then eyeing up the runs still required. As she moved closer to the target she found a second wind once she she could “see the finish line in sight”.

The two teams move now to the second game of the three-match ODI series on Sunday.

Match Stats

Sri Lanka Women Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Chamari Atapattu - 0.4 ov), 2-35 (Harshitha Samarawickrama - 7.6 ov), 3-157 (Vishmi Rajapaksha Gunaratne - 30.2 ov), 4-186 (Kavisha Dilhari - 36.2 ov), 5-191 (Hasini Perera - 37.1 ov), 6-216 (Nilakshi de Silva - 42.4 ov), 7-223 (Anushka Sanjeewani - 44.5 ov), 8-254 (Sugandika Kumari - 48.4 ov)

Ireland Women Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Gaby Lewis - 7.2 ov), 2-69 (Sarah Forbes - 15.4 ov), 3-116 (Amy Hunter - 25.1 ov), 4-138 (Leah Paul - 29.1 ov), 5-180 (Rebecca Stokell - 36.5 ov), 6-211 (Arlene Kelly - 43.2 ov), 7-211 (Alice Tector - 43.4 ov)