A brilliant all-round performance by Orla Prendergast got Ireland off to a winning start in their T20 international series against Pakistan in Lahore. The Pembroke teenager bowled with fire and discipline to take a career best 3-10 off her four overs and backed it up with a blistering 39 off 25 balls to help set up a six wicket win.
For Ireland to go to Pakistan and win – their opponents beat India last month in the Asian cup – cannot be underplayed. In alien conditions they struggled in last week’s ODI series, but pulled it around in the short format with an aggressive display.
“We’ve had good game plans,” said Prendergast as she collected her player of the match trophy. “It just took us time to get used to the conditions here.”
Pakistan’s stellar top order were reduced to 32-3 after seven overs, failing to score off 20 balls in the powerplay – Ireland only had 28 dot balls in their entire innings. Prendergast was a bit of a sporting god growing up, winning underage representative honours for Ireland at soccer and Dublin at football.
Her decision to settle on cricket is a big part of the reason why there is a lot of confidence around the future of Ed Joyce’s team. Her bowling was managed in the ODIs, where she only had four over spells but managed the most economical series figures.
Arlene Kelly also returned fine figures of 1-23 off her four, while the spinners took some stick from Nida Dar who blitzed 61 off 43 balls to give Pakistan a fighting chance with 135-5. Ireland’s fielding stepped up a notch from the ODIs, with Louise Little holding two catches, one a ‘worldie’ as she sprinkled a little of her brother Josh’s gold dust on the Gaddafi Stadium.
After Amy Hunter went early, Prendergast’s innings was backed up by Gaby Lewis who was there at the end with 69 off 54 balls. The pair of UCD students added 55 in their 39 balls together, reducing the target to barely a run a ball as early as the eighth over.
Losing Prendergast and Laura Delany did not faze Lewis, who continued serenely on, upping the tempo when needed in company with Eimear Richardson and Rebecca Stokell and stroking the winning four with eight balls to spare.
Lewis said the squad had put the ODI series to bed and enjoyed a couple of days sightseeing. “We got to switch off from cricket for a couple of days which is really important on tour. That did us the world of good and let us reset for the T20s.
“Our bowlers got us off to a great start today. With the World Cup in February we’re building our momentum towards that.”
Hangovers may not be an issue in Pakistan after today’s men’s World Cup final, but Ireland now have a great chance to clinch a notable series win in the remaining fixtures tomorrow and Wednesday.