Ireland‘s Women’s cricket team secured an impressive series win over the reigning Women’s Asia Cup champions, Sri Lanka, with a commanding performance in the second ODI on August 18, 2024. With this win on top of an all-round brilliance, Ireland Women takes 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, with one match still left to play.
Half-centuries from Amy Hunter, Leah Paul and Rebecca Stokell laid the foundations and Arlene Kelly applied the finishing touches with a three-wicket haul as Ireland took an unassailable 2-0 lead over Sri Lanka with a 15-run win in the second ODI in Belfast.
Pitch and Toss
The surface at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont will likely have a lot to offer to the batters. The average first innings score in the last 10 ODI matches here has been 247 runs. The teams batting first have won four out of these 10 games. The team winning the toss here might look to bowl.
Sri Lanka Women have won the toss and have opted to field. Ireland Women batting first now has to set up a big score to defend in order to go up with the winning lead in the series
Half-centuries from Amy Hunter, Leah Paul and Rebecca Stokell laid the foundations for a 15-run victory of Ireland Women
Batting first after being sent in by Sri Lanka, Ireland Women faced early challenges as they lost both openers to Achini Kulasuriya’s new-ball spell. The situation worsened when Orla Prendergast, the centurion from the first ODI, was dismissed by Kavisha Dilhari, leaving Ireland at 77 for 3.
However, the Irish middle order showed resilience and determination. Amy Hunter led the recovery with a well-crafted 71-ball 66, forming a crucial 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Leah Paul. Hunter’s dismissal, just when she seemed set for a bigger score, was a setback, but Ireland did not falter.
Leah Paul, who played a pivotal role in stabilizing the innings, found an able partner in Rachel Stokell. The duo forged a match-defining partnership of 114 runs off 112 balls for the fifth wicket. Paul was eventually dismissed for a well-made 81 off 101 balls in the final over, while Stokell remained unbeaten on 53 off 61 balls, ensuring Ireland posted a competitive total.
Having pulled off their record ODI chase to win the first ODI, Ireland put up another impressive batting display after being sent in. Achini Kulasuriya removed both their openers in her new-ball spell, and when Dilhari took out Orla Prendergast, their centurion from Friday, they were 77 for 3. Hunter and Paul got them moving with a 57-run fourth-wicket stand, before Athapaththu struck to send Hunter back for a 71-ball 66.
Then came the partnership that set Ireland up for their victory push, with Paul and Stokell adding 114 off 112 balls for the fifth wicket. Paul was out in the final over for 81 off 101 balls, while Stokell finished unbeaten on 53 off 61.
Ireland go 2-0 up despite Harshitha Samarawickrama century
As in Friday’s first ODI, however, Sri Lanka made the hosts earn their win. An impressive all-round display from Kavisha Dilhari and a maiden ODI century from the in-form Harshitha Samarawickrama put Sri Lanka in a position of some control in their chase of 256. A 126-run stand between these two left them needing 84 in 98 balls, with eight wickets in hand, but Ireland hit back thereafter, with Kelly, Jane Maguire and run-outs combining to derail the visitors’ chase.
With her 124-ball 105, Samarawickrama became the third member of Sri Lanka’s ODI centurions club, one match after Vishmi Gunaratne had ended Chamari Athapaththu’s long spell as its sole representative.
Sri Lanka, despite a maiden ODI century from Samarawickrama, could not chase down Ireland’s total. The Irish bowlers maintained pressure, ultimately leading to a memorable victory that sealed the series to their name.
Road Ahead for Ireland and Sri Lanka women
The final match of the series on August 20, will now be an opportunity for Ireland to complete a clean sweep while the Sri Lanka women will now look to avoid clean sweep vs resurgent Ireland.