Nat Sciver-Brunt took England to the brink of victory before retiring with calf tightness as the hosts made it two wins from two at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The England skipper scored 48, putting on 64 with her predecessor Heather Knight as the host nation eventually came away with a four-wicket win over Ireland in Southampton.
Earlier, Ireland had made 118 for nine, with Orla Prendergast and Louise Little each top-scoring with 26.
England on top despite Prendergast and Little resistance
After an hour delay due to rain, England won the toss, with Sciver-Brunt electing to put Ireland in to make the most of the overcast conditions.
Linsey Smith broke the deadlock in the second over, getting through the defences of Amy Hunter as she tried mow the ball through the leg side and failed to connect.
At the other end, Lauren Bell went for a couple of early boundaries but joined in the fun when Gaby Lewis tried to scoop her first ball and picked out Heather Knight at short fine leg, the former skipper making a smart catch.
Alana Dalzell made a start but succumbed in Charlie Dean’s first over, chipping her third ball straight to Freya Kemp at extra cover for 14 as Ireland slipped to 25 for three.
With her team in trouble, Orla Prendergast mounted a counter-attack, smashing Sophie Ecclestone for 10 off her first three deliveries including a booming four down the ground.
After changing ends, Ecclestone responded with England’s fourth wicket, smart work from Amy Jones behind the wicket removing Rebecca Stokell stumped for nine, before Leah Paul almost perished first ball, her little flick bouncing just before Nat Sciver-Brunt could haul it in.
The introduction of Danielle Gibson then brought the big wicket of Prendergast, the Ireland standout playing on for 26 to leave her side 57 for five after 10 overs.
Gibson had another when Alice Tector holed out to Sciver-Brunt for 10, with Paul falling for the same score, trapped in front by Dean (two for 11).
Arlene Kelly was next to fall, slicing Ecclestone (three for 22) to Knight for a straightforward catch, followed by Cara Murray three balls later.
Louise Little ensured Ireland finished with a flourish however, hitting Bell for four boundaries in the final over to end unbeaten on 26 as Ireland reached 118 for nine.
Heroes of 2017 see England out of trouble before late drama
England’s chase began at a sedate pace, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones taking no chances in pursuit of a manageable total.
But after her century against Sri Lanka, Wyatt-Hodge was clearly in the mood to cash in once more, hitting Arlene Kelly for successive boundaries in the third over.
Amy Jones was given a life when Hunter could not hold onto a tough chance off an attempted scoop, but she did not make the most of it, picking out Lewis with a lofted drive as she was dismissed for nine by Aimee Maguire.
And opening partner Wyatt-Hodge fell in the exact same manner two balls later for 16, leaving England 28 for two.
Prendergast followed that up with a perfect yorker to remove Alice Capsey for five, bringing experienced pair Sciver-Brunt and Knight together.
The duo, who were both part of the England team that lifted the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2017, quickly extinguished any Irish hopes of an upset as they combined to put on 64 for the fourth wicket.
Prendergast (two for 17) returned and trapped Knight in front for 26, but the damage had been done by that point.
There was another twist in the tale though, as Sciver-Brunt hit a four to reach 48 before walking off with calf tightness with England still nine short of victory.
Freya Kemp was then run out but Dean and Gibson saw England home to make it two wins from two.
Scores in brief
England v Ireland – Hampshire Bowl, Southampton
Ireland 118/9 in 20 overs (Louise Little 26 not out, Orla Prendergast 26; Sophie Ecclestone 3/22, Danielle Gibson 2/10, Charlie Dean 2/11)
England 119/6 in 17.3 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 48, Heather Knight 26; Orla Prendergast 2/17, Aimee Maguire 2/23)
Result: England win by four wickets
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