Woeful Windies Ignite Ireland

It was against a lacklustre West Indies that Ireland gained their first win in a T20 World Cup match when they won at Bristol by six wickets. After 21 losses in World Cup matches, number 22 must be a lucky number for Ireland.

Perhaps the Ireland team was inspired by their male counterparts who a day earlier had beaten India for the first time. History made by both Ireland teams in the space of 48 hours.

The West Indies just needed a win here against a team that hadn’t won a World Cup match after 21 matches. Ireland would march home with their tail between their legs and the Windies would march into the finals. Well, that’s what sensible people were thinking. That’s what cricket experts were thinking. Ireland reduced that thinking to mush.

By the end of their campaign, Ireland’s Orla Prendergast sits atop the table for Player of the Tournament. And today she showed why, in emphatic fashion. Runs and wickets, Player of the Match, it was a spectacular end of what has been a spectacular World Cup for the Ireland allrounder.

West Indies managed just 128/7 after being sent in to bat following Gaby Lewis‘ decision at the toss. It was an underwhelming total in the least and could have been worse but for Chinelle Henry (27*).

Ireland lost Gaby Lewis early, but Orla Prendergast (63) and Amy Hunter (28) steadied the ship and the second wicket didn’t fall until the score was 88. Prendergast put on a show and the Windies bowlers had no answers.

Ireland got home with 6 wickets in hand and Orla Prendergast was named Player of the Match. A fitting end to the tournament for the allrounder who had given so much to the cause, and now Ireland has removed the monkey from its back, the first World Cup match victory in 22 matches.

West Indies had to sweat on the result between England and New Zealand. The result fell in their favour and despite this embarrassing loss are now in the finals, still with a hope of emulating their trophy win of a decade ago in 2016.

Scores

West Indies 128/7 (Chinelle Henry 27*, Cara Murray 2-13, Amy Maguire 2-22) lost to
Ireland 129/4 (Orla Prendergast 63, Amy Hunter 28, Ashmini Munisar 2-28) by 6 wickets

POTM: Orla Prendergast