Irishman Orla Prendergast (AP Photo)
Ireland finally ended their long wait for victory in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, beating the West Indies by six wickets in Bristol on Saturday to record their first ever win in the tournament after a 21-match losing streak spanning 12 years.Not only did the result mark a historic milestone for Ireland, it also had a major impact on the semi-final race. A win would have guaranteed the West Indies a place in the quarter-finals. Instead, the defeat gave New Zealand, the defending champions, a lifeline. The White Ferns can now qualify for the semi-finals if they beat England later on Saturday, while an England victory would still send the West Indies through.Ireland’s victory added to a memorable weekend for the country after the men’s team defeated India in their first T20I in Belfast.
After restricting West Indies to 128/7, Ireland chased down the target by 11 balls. Orla Prendergast produced another match-winning performance, anchoring the innings with a brilliant 63 off 44 deliveries. Her knock put Ireland firmly in control before she departed with only 21 runs still needed.Rebecca Stockel and Louise Little maintained their composure during the closing stages, with the latter claiming the famous win by driving a winning boundary at mid-on as Ireland finished on 129/4.
Earlier, West Indies struggled to build momentum after being sent to bat, only managing 128/7 despite starting several batsmen. Ireland’s disciplined bowling and strong play ensured that the Caribbean side were never able to pick up the pace, leaving them with a sub-par defense total.