With a slight autumnal chill at the finish, Orla Prendergast masterminded an epic run chase to beat Sri Lanka Women by three wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series.

The day began with Alice Tector receiving her first cap in a moving ceremony on the pitch with family present as speeches were made.

Not long after, Orla Prendergast had ball in hand as Ireland won the toss and elected to bowl first. It turned out to be a cunning move from stand-in skipper Gaby Lewis as Prendergast removed Sri Lanka star batter and captain Chamari Athapaththu.

Alana Dalzell also saw the end of Harshitha Samarawickrama but thereafter found it harder in the middle overs.

Ireland’s bowlers continued to chip away throughout, but were able to make a final push with Prendergast claiming a career-best 3-25. But that wouldn’t be her last trick of the day.

In their pursuit of 261, Ireland made a watchful start to the chase. However, the crucial task was going to be keeping up with the required run rate.

Re-enter Orla Prendergast. She worked hard with Amy Hunter, Rebecca Stokell and Arlene Kelly to form key partnerships and get back into the chase.

All the while, Prendergast started moving through the gears – first getting to a remarkable hundred and then eyeing up the runs still required. As she moved closer to the target she found a second wind once she she could “see the finish line in sight”.

The two teams move now to the second game of the three-match ODI series on Sunday.

MATCH SUMMARY

Ireland Women v Sri Lanka Women, 1st One Day International, Stormont, 16 August 2024

Sri Lanka 260-8 (50 overs; Vishmi Gunaratne 101; O Prendergast 3-25)
Ireland 261-7 (49.2 overs; Orla Prendergast 122*; A Hunter 42; K Dilhari 4-54)  

Ireland won by 3 wickets

Source: Cricket Ireland
--Agencies