NEW DELHI: For the first time in a women's Twenty20 international match, Ireland defeated England on Sunday. Their thrilling five-wicket victory in Dublin with one ball remaining meant that the two-game series finished even at 1-1.
After being put into bat at Castle Avenue, Dublin, England, who had won the first game of the series by an overwhelming 67 runs, reached 169-8, with Tammy Beaumont top-scoring with 40.
However, Ireland have a track record of recovering and bouncing back, as per AFP.
They trailed 0-2 in the one-day series after losing by 275 runs and getting bowled out for just 45 runs, but they rallied to win the third and final game on Wednesday in Belfast.
And on Sunday, after taking two English wickets earlier, they upset their opponents once more when Orla Prendergast led the run chase brilliantly.
The 22-year-old all-rounder hit 13 fours and amassed 80 off 51 deliveries before England captain Kate Cross bowled her out.
By then, the home team was getting closer to win as Prendergast and Ireland skipper Gaby Lewis (38) piled on 79 runs together and added 82 with Leah Paul (27 not out).
After Prendergast was knocked off the final delivery of the 19th over, Ireland still needed seven runs from their final six balls.
Before Mady Villiers bowled Ava Canning and Sarah Forbes in consecutive deliveries to offer England fresh hope, that had become two from four.
However, the penultimate delivery proved to be the game-winning blow when Christina Coulter Reilly knocked the ball back to Villiers, but the off-spinner missed an easy run-out opportunity as her overthrow sealed the victory for Ireland.
