Orla Prendergast guides Ireland to record chase after Vishmi Gunaratne's maiden ton
Vishmi Gunaratne became only the second woman from Sri Lanka to score an ODI hundred, but her knock was overshadowed by a stunning ton from Orla Prendergast.
Ireland v Sri Lanka, 1st ODI, Scorecard
On a day when her opening partner Chamari Athapaththu fell for a first-ball duck, 18-year-old Gunaratne took charge and blazed away to a maiden ODI hundred. But it was still not enough to give Sri Lanka a win as Orla Prendergast stunned Sri Lanka with a blazing unbeaten ton to take Ireland to their highest run-chase in women's ODIs.
Prendergast walked in at No.4 and remained unbeaten on 122 off 107 balls to take her team home in the first game of this bilateral series that is a part of the ICC Women's Championship series.
Earlier, Gunaratne was watchful at the start, but once she took off with a six in the sixth over, there was no stopping Sri Lanka’s former U19 captain.
Her ton came off merely 97 deliveries and included nine fours and three sixes.
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With her century in the 31st over, Gunaratne had a rare feat to her name – becoming the only other Sri Lanka woman apart from Athapaththu to get an ODI century. Unfortunately, she fell off the very next ball, ending her knock on 101.
Sri Lanka women's nine other hundreds in the format have all come from the willow of Chamari Athapaththu.
Orla Prendergast stars as Ireland stun Sri Lanka to go 1-0 up in the ICC Women's Championship series 👌#IWC | #IREvSL 📝: https://t.co/wbbxrj0nYe pic.twitter.com/UshcfSg6vH
— ICC (@ICC) August 16, 2024
Gunaratne’s attacking start helped the Islanders overcome early hiccups and advance towards a strong total. However, Prendergast's brilliance in the run-chase saw Sri Lanka succumb to a loss.
The Ireland batter notched up her maiden ODI hundred, becoming the seventh Ireland player to make a century in women's ODIs. "Once I saw the finish line [was close], I kicked into the next gear," Prendergast, who made 41 runs off her last 21 balls, said after the game.
Sri Lanka and Ireland are playing a three-ODI series in Belfast. The two sides previously engaged in a two-game T20I series, which was drawn 1-1.
Picture credit: Cricket Ireland