Stand-in England captain Kate Cross produced career-best bowling figures earlier than guiding her inexperienced facet to a four-wicket win over Eire within the opening ODI at Stormont.
Cross – main the facet within the absence of Heather Knight, with most of England’s T20 World Cup squad additionally not within the squad – completed with 6-30 as Eire collapsed from 151-3 to be bowled out for 210 within the forty seventh over.
After Eire made early breakthroughs in England’s reply, Cross then helped regular the innings alongside Freya Kemp, ending unbeaten on 38 because the vacationers gained with greater than 15 overs to spare.
Kate Cross and Bess Heath placed on an unbeaten 55-run stand for the seventh wicket
England handed worldwide debuts to Paige Scholfield, Hannah Baker and Ryana MacDonald-Homosexual, whereas Mady Villiers and Hollie Armitage each featured in an ODI for the primary time.
Eire gained the toss and elected to bat, however misplaced Una Raymond-Hoey lbw to Cross within the opening over earlier than stand-in captain Gaby Lewis swiftly adopted to depart the hosts 21-2.
Amy Hunter and Orla Prendergast led the fightback with a 50 partnership, earlier than leg-spinner Baker picked up her first worldwide wicket to take away Hunter for 37.
Orla Prendergast completed with figures of 2-27 from her six overs
All-rounder Prendergast prime scored with 76 however as soon as she was out within the thirty first over, having hit 9 boundaries together with a six, Eire collapsed as MacDonald-Homosexual got here in to take her maiden England wicket earlier than Cross ripped via the tail, claiming 4 wickets in simply six balls.
England’s reply received off to a shaky begin as Prendergast caught and bowled opener Emma Lamb (4) within the third over, then quickly additionally accounted for Tammy Beaumont (10) to depart the vacationers 32-2.
Scholfield added a swift 31 whereas Armitage made 44 earlier than World Cup-bound Kemp (26) and a decided unbeaten 33 from wicketkeeper-batter Bess Heath helped Cross – who made her highest ODI rating – push England on to victory.
What’s subsequent?
The collection continues on Monday on the identical venue, which additionally holds the third and closing ODIs of the collection on Wednesday, with each matches beginning at 10.45am. There’ll then be two T20Is held on September 14 and 15 in Dublin. Stream cricket and extra with NOW.
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