England made it two wins from two to start the Women’s T20 World Cup despite a curious batting display, in which Nat Sciver-Bunt retired herself out with the victory line in sight.
Chasing 119, an England top-order wobble had them 35-3 in the sixth over, before Sciver-Brunt’s assured 48 from 37 balls had the hosts cruising – until she retired two short of a half century and nine away from victory.
England lost a sixth wicket four balls later, with Freya Kemp (2) run out, before they finally squeaked home with 14 balls to spare to make it two wins from two to start the tournament, edging them closer to qualification for the semi-finals.
Earlier, once play got under way after more than an hour’s rain delay, Sophie Ecclestone starred with the ball, the left-arm spinner responding brilliantly to her opening over being tonked for 13 as she took 3-22 to restrict Ireland to 118-9.
Ecclestone’s haul included the wicket of Rebecca Stokell (9) to a fine stumping from Amy Jones, while Dani Gibson (2-10) then bowled the dangerous Orla Prendergast (26 off 18) off her bottom edge to have Ireland 57-5 before the midpoint of their innings.
Charlie Dean (2-11) and Gibson each claimed a second scalp before Ecclestone took two more in the 19th over to have Ireland nine down just as they hit the 100 mark.
Some valuable lower-order hitting from Louise Little (26no off 15) added some respectability to the Ireland total as Lauren Bell, who had earlier dismissed captain Gaby Lewis for a first-ball duck, saw her final over smashed for 17 runs.
Ireland carried some of that momentum into their bowling display, with Aimee Maguire (2-23) accounting for both England openers – Amy Jones (9) and, centurion versus Sri Lanka, Danni Wyatt-Hodge (16) – in the space of three balls.
Prendergast (2-17) then bowled Capsey (5) in the next over to have England teetering a touch at 35-3 in the sixth until Sciver-Brunt and a handy 26 off 23 from Heather Knight helped the home side wrestle the match back in their favour.
They put on 64 for the fourth wicket until Knight fell lbw to Prendergast, after review, while Sciver-Brunt ‘s late retirement denied herself the winning moment.
England’s Women’s T20 World Cup fixtures/results
All games live on Sky Sports, all times UK and Ireland
- Friday June 12 (Edgbaston): England beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs
- Tuesday June 16 (Hampshire Bowl): England beat Ireland by four wickets
- Saturday June 20: England vs Scotland, Headingley 6.30pm
- Wednesday June 24: England vs West Indies, Lord’s 6.30pm
- Saturday June 27: England vs New Zealand, The Oval 6.30pm
Everyone can stream all group matches involving England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the semi-finals and final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup live for FREE on the Sky Sports App.
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Watch every ball of the Women’s T20 World Cup exclusively live on Sky Sports and NOW through to the final at Lord’s on July 5.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
