Ireland's women's team levelled their T20I series against England with a dramatic five-wicket victory at Clontarf. In a match full of tense moments, it was Mady Villiers' fielding error that ultimately handed Ireland the win, despite her impressive efforts with the ball.
Villiers had shone at the end of England's innings, just as she had in last week's third ODI, but a crucial mistake in the final moments shifted the outcome once more. With two runs needed from two balls and a fresh batter on strike, Christina Coulter Reilly drove the ball straight to Villiers, who gathered it but hastily threw it, missing a chance for a run-out. The overthrow allowed Ireland to clinch the victory and finish their summer campaign on a high.
The standout performance of the day came from Orla Prendergast, who anchored Ireland's chase with a superb 80 off 51 balls. Supported first by Gaby Lewis and then Leah Paul, Prendergast kept Ireland in control throughout most of the chase. At 163 for 2, with only seven runs needed from seven balls, Ireland seemed firmly in charge.
However, England’s captain Kate Cross, in her maiden series, nearly turned the game around with a brilliant late spell. She dismissed Amy Hunter early and later bowled Prendergast, putting pressure on Ireland's middle-order. Sarah Forbes' boundary off Villiers reduced Ireland’s target to two runs from four balls, but Villiers responded by taking two wickets in two balls, creating an opening for England to potentially snatch victory. Yet, it wasn’t to be.
Earlier in the match, England posted a competitive total of 169 for 8 after being sent in to bat. Tammy Beaumont led with 40 off 34 balls, while Bryony Smith contributed 28, and Paige Scholfield added a crucial 34 from 31 balls in the middle overs. Prendergast, continuing her all-round performance, took two key wickets to disrupt England’s late charge, while two run-outs in the final over further limited their score, which ultimately proved just short.
Reflecting on her performance, Prendergast told TNT Sports, “I knew if I got myself in, I could accelerate towards the end. It was our last game of the summer, and we wanted to show how strong we are.”
Cross acknowledged the pressure, noting, “Orla batted brilliantly and kept us under pressure. We had chances to win, but sometimes you have to accept when someone plays that well. Mady’s tight finishes have been a theme, and under pressure, mistakes happen. If given the chance again, she’d get it right 99 times out of 100.”
Ireland’s win ties the series and ends their summer campaign on a high note, showcasing their resilience and determination in the face of a tough England side.