England recovered from a shaky start against Ireland at Southampton on Tuesday, moving from 35 for three to reach a target of 119 with 15 balls left and four wickets in hand, keeping their World Cup hopes alive. Concerns remain over captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who made 48 before retiring hurt with nine runs needed after a calf injury flared up again. She will undergo assessment before England’s next game against Scotland at Headingley on Saturday.
The match looked straightforward for England, yet their eagerness to boost an already strong net run rate led to early trouble. Ireland’s top players, captain Gaby Lewis and vice-captain Orla Prendergast, struck quickly. Lewis took two catches at extra cover in the fifth over to remove Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge. Prendergast then bowled Alice Capsey to increase the pressure.
Lewis later said she was proud of her side’s effort to make the chase difficult. Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight steadied the innings with a 64-run stand off 49 balls. Knight credited their calm approach and expressed hope that Sciver-Brunt would recover.
After Sciver-Brunt’s departure and a late run-out of Freya Kemp, Charlie Dean hit the winning boundary in the 18th over. Rain had delayed the start by an hour, prompting England to bowl first. Sophie Ecclestone took three wickets, while Charlie Dean finished with two for 11.
Ireland reached only 57 for five at halfway despite useful contributions from Louise Little, who remained unbeaten on 26. Lewis was dismissed for a duck, and Prendergast made 20 before being bowled. The result leaves defending champions New Zealand in danger after their earlier loss to Sri Lanka on the same pitch.
