Orla Prendergast Leads Ireland to Historic ODI Chase Victory Against Sri Lanka in The 1st ODI
Orla Prendergast shined with both bat and ball in an exciting match in Dublin, leading Ireland to their most successful ODI chase ever.
In the first ODI of the series, Ireland defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets because to Prendergast’s outstanding all-around performance. Ireland wins in the last over, despite Gunaratne’s stunning century.
Key Performances and Match Results
Sri Lanka Women 260 for 8 (Gunaratne 101, Perera 46, Prendergast 3-25, Dalzell 2-37) lost to Ireland Women 261 for 7 (Prendergast 122*, Hunter 42, Dilhari 4-54) by 3 wickets.
In the opening One-Day International in Dublin, Ireland defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets thanks to a brilliant robbery by Orla Prendergast, who took 3 for 25 and then hit an undefeated 122 off 107 balls.
Sent in, Sri Lanka scored 260 for 8 thanks to Vishmi Gunaratne’s first-ever ODI century. Ireland achieved their first-ever successful chase of more than 200 runs in one-day international cricket when Prendergast responded with her own first-ever century. Additionally, it was Ireland’s first victory over Sri Lanka in five ODIs.
Ireland lost Gabby Lewis for 9 off 24 balls while chasing 261. After hitting a couple boundaries, Sarah Forbes and Amy Hunter added 49 runs for the second wicket until Sachini Nisansala trapped them both out for LBW. Hunter got off to a quick start, hitting 42 off 45 balls, including four fours in a 47-run partnership with Prendergast at the third wicket. Soon later, Prendergast decided to pursue the matter when Leah Paul also fell.
Prendergast hit a four off Kavisha Dilhari after 57 balls to achieve her fifty. Prendergast maintained the scoreboard moving despite Ireland’s frequent wicket losses at the other end. With just three wickets remaining, Ireland needed to score 30 runs in the final three overs.
However, Prendergast’s two fours and six off Dilhari in the 48th over shifted the tide of the match in their favor. She also scored a century off of 97 balls with the first of those fours. The equation was lowered to 12 required from two overs after that 18-run over.
Prendergast struck the winning single off the second ball in the last over, which was just fitting. In a women’s ODI chase, her unbeaten 122 was the second-highest score when batting at a No. 4 or lower.
Prior to this, Chamari Athapaththu was the only other batter from Sri Lanka to make an ODI century, with Gunaratne becoming the second. After missing the T20I series, Athapaththu’s comeback lasted just one ball before being caught behind by Prendergast. It took Harshitha Samarawickrama 11 balls to reach her first boundary, but she blasted four fours in her 19 before Alana Dalzell swept her clean in the eighth over. Then, Gunaratne and Hasini Perera came together to extend the innings.
After hitting Dalzell for a six to start the innings, Gunaratne hit debutante Alice Tector for two fours in the ninth over. Once she scored fifty runs off of 58 balls, she increased her scoring even further.
She reached 96 off 97 balls after hitting Jane Maguire for a six in the 30th over. She then reached her hundred off 97 balls in the following over off a four from Arlene Kelly. She and Perera put up 122 runs for the third wicket before she was removed on the following ball.
After losing Dilhari and Perera quickly, Sri Lanka amassed 62 in the final ten overs and 36 in the final five overs thanks to valuable contributions from the lower middle order. They reached a competitive total with that, but it was insufficient.
