Ireland Women are riding high after a well-earned three-wicket victory in the first ODI against Sri Lanka Women on Friday at Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast. This win has given them a crucial 1-0 lead in the three-match series, setting the stage for a thrilling second encounter. The second ODI between both teams will be held on Sunday at Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast.
In the first ODI, Ireland Women displayed exceptional resilience, outplaying Sri Lanka Women in all departments. Their bowlers laid the foundation for the victory by restricting Sri Lanka Women to a manageable total of 260. On the batting front, Ireland Women chased down the target with four balls to spare after Orla Predergast played a 122-run knock unbeaten to guide the team to a crucial win.
For Ireland Women, second ODI will likely see a continued reliance in all departments. Orla Predergast, who was exceptional in the first match, will be crucial in maintaining their lead. They will look to seal the series with another strong performance. They will be aware that their opponents will come out all guns blazing to avoid a series defeat.
Sri Lanka Women, on the other hand, will be eager to bounce back and level the series. They will need their experienced players to step up, especially in the batting department, where they struggled to build momentum. Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, which has the potential to trouble any batting lineup, will need to find their rhythm early on to contain Ireland’s batters.
IRE-W probable XI: Sarah Forbes, Gaby Lewis (c), Amy Hunter (wk), Orla Prendergast, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell, Arlene Kelly, Alice Tector, Jane Maguire, Alana Dalzell, Freya Sargent
SL-W probable XI: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Perera, Sachini Nisansala, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya