Ireland Women made a historic win against Sri Lanka Women by three wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series. Orla Prendergast pulled a stunning display picking up 3 for 25 runs and followed up an unbeaten 122 runs of 107 balls.
Sri Lanka was confident on Vishmi Gunaratne’s maiden ODI century to post a total of 260 runs for 8. Responding to the total, Prendergast also scored a maiden ODI century to help Ireland record their first successful chase of over 200 in ODIs. This was also Ireland’s first ODI win over Sri Lanka in five attempts.
Prendergast reached her fifty with a four off Kavisha Dilhar off 57 balls. Ireland lost wickets at regular intervals from the other end, but Prendergast kept the scoreboard ticking. In the last three overs, Ireland needed 30 runs with just three wickets in hand.
Orla Prendergast stars as Ireland stun Sri Lanka to go 1-0 up in the ICC Women’s Championship series 👌#IWC | #IREvSL 📝: https://t.co/wbbxrj0nYe pic.twitter.com/UshcfSg6vH
— ICC (@ICC) August 16, 2024
The 48th over, though turned the match in their favour as Prendergast hit Dilhari for two fours and a six. The first four brought her century off 97 balls. The 18-run over reduced the equation to 12 required from two overs.
Prendergast hit the winning single, off the second ball of the final over. Her unbeaten 122 was the second-highest score while batting at No. 4 or lower in the Women’s ODI chase.
Gunaratne became the second Sri Lanka batter after Chamari Athapaththu to score an ODI century. Chamari who was named as the women’s Player of the Month for July 2024 was sent out on a golden duck in the first over. Harshitha Samarawickrama took 11 balls to get off the mark but struck 19 runs by Alana Dalzell in the eighth over.
Gunaratne and Hasini Perera joined forces to take the innings forward. They scored a 122-run partnership for the third wicket. Arlene Kelly picked the wicket of Gunaratne which put the side in a struggle.
Sri Lanka lost Dilhar and Perera in quick time, but useful contributions from the lower middle order of 62 runs in the last ten overs, and 36 in the last five. Leading the series, Ireland women will be looking forward to continuing their win streak against Sri Lanka in the 2nd ODI on August 18 at Stormont.
