Series: Scotland in Ireland May 2021
Venue: Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast
Format: T20
Toss: Ireland
Result: Ireland by 61 runs
What a Difference a Day Makes
Twenty-four hours after struggling to score runs against the Scotland bowling attack, the Ireland team were all guns blazing and blunted, then bludgeoned the bowlers into submission.
Ireland’s Laura Delany won the toss and chose to bat. Where the local batters were mesmerised on this same pitch yesterday, today, given it had dried out a little more had more freedom to play expansive shots.
Gaby Lewis (47) took no time getting stuck into the attack and despite losing Rebecca Stokell (10) and the skipper (0) she found an able ally in Shauna Kavanagh who made her highest score in T20Is of 31. When those two were dismissed their work carried on through Orla Prendergast (24*) and Lara Maritz (16*) who clubbed a six from the bowling of Katie McGill in the 19th over. It was the first maximum of the series.
Where they were untouchable the day before the Scotland bowlers were less disciplined and were unsettled against the onslaught. Ireland finished with 137/4 after 20 overs. Scotland’s best was McGill who picked up 2-26.
Embed from Getty ImagesScotland never got going. Two balls into the innings Becky Glen was bowled by Prendergast for a duck. Sarah Bryce (2) went soon after to the newly capped Ava Canning who was so impressive in her debut.
Kathryn Bryce (17) and Katie McGill breathed some life into the batting corpse but when they were dismissed it was a procession and the body could not be revived.
Leah Paul took 4-16 which is the second best all-time bowling return for Ireland in T20Is. Delany (2-11) and Prendergast (2-19) and Canning were the best of the bowlers as Scotland were skittled for 76 in the 17th over.
A complete reversal of fortune from the day before as the series sits evenly poised at one apiece. I wonder what will happen one day from now?
Scores:
Ireland 137/4 (Lewis 47, Kavanagh 31, McGill 2-26) 20 overs
Scotland 76 (McGill 19, Paul 4-16, Delany2-11, Prendergast 2-19) 16.3 overs
Player of the Match: Gaby Lewis