ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Group 1, Bristol
West Indies 128-7 (20 overs): Henry 27* (21); Murray 2-13
Ireland 129-4 (18.1 overs): Prendergast 63 (44); Munisar 2-28
Ireland won by six wickets
Ireland earned their first win at a T20 World Cup with a surprise victory over semi-final hopefuls West Indies at Bristol.
After a fine all-round bowling performance restricted West Indies to 128-7, Orla Prendergast led Ireland’s chase with a stunning 63 from 44 balls.
Prendergast was dismissed in the 16th over with 21 runs from 28 balls still required, but Rebecca Stokell held her nerve with an unbeaten 16 to seal the win with 11 balls to spare.
Ireland have lost all of their previous 21 matches in five editions of the tournament and West Indies were winners in 2016.
The defeat does not eliminate West Indies, as they still finished with a better net run-rate than Sri Lanka, so they will be through if New Zealand lose to England in Saturday’s later game (18:30 BST).
West Indies’ batting line-up could not get going, with their three powerhouses in Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin all scoring at a strike-rate of less than 100.
That left too much for the lower order to do in order to catch up, despite Chinelle Henry’s 27 not out.
Spinner Cara Murray was the pick of the Irish bowlers with a miserly 2-13, including the key wicket of Matthews for 22.
Captain Gaby Lewis fell cheaply in reply, but Amy Hunter steadied the chase with a stand of 62 with Prendergast.
Hunter was dropped on three and went on to make 28 before Prendergast accelerated through the middle overs, whacking eight fours and two sixes in her match-winning knock.
Ireland did not do enough to secure a top-four finish in the group, however, which means they must join Scotland in the qualifying rounds for the 2028 tournament.
