Hard work pays off as England quick delivers Derby delight

England fast bowler Issy Wong believes she is growing in confidence following her maiden five-wicket haul for her country in the second ODI against Ireland in Derby on Thursday.

Wong produced the best performance of her short international career when collecting figures of 5/33 in a Player of the Match performance at the County Ground, as England wrapped up an unassailable lead in their three-game series against their close neighbours with an impressive six-wicket triumph.

The performance was a long time coming for Wong, with the talented right-armer having been forced to wait on the sidelines for her chance for much of the last four years despite impressing when debuting as a 20-year-old back in 2022.

It was just Wong's sixth ODI appearance on Thursday when she tore through Ireland's talented batting line-up and the confident 24-year-old thinks her best is yet to come as she continues to establish herself in the England setup.

"The journey's quite short I guess but it feels like behind the scenes there's a lot of that and a lot of work so it's really pleasing," Wong said. 

"I feel like I've come on a lot and it feels like I've worked quite hard and I guess when you work hard then good things happen.

“Any time you get to represent England is a really proud feeling, and any time you do well in a cricket match is also a proud feeling, so to put the two together probably for the first time in my international career, if I’m being honest with myself, is really nice.”

Wong only got the chance during this series as first-choice pacer Lauren Bell is being rested, while skipper and star all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt remains sidelined with her ongoing calf concern.

Ironically it is Bell that Wong has credited for her recent upturn in form, with the pair having played together at the Southern Brave during the recent Hundred competition in England that saw the side finish in third place.

With Bell watching on it has been left to the likes of Wong, Lauren Filer and Ryana MacDonald-Gay to fill the void and the signs are good as England look to their next group of fast bowlers.

"It feels like we've worked together quite a lot in various different places and it's been really cool for us to go out and showcase how far it feels like we've come," Wong said. 

"Lauren Bell has been brilliant at really passing on her knowledge.

"She's obviously played a lot more games than the three of us and certainly for me and Filer to be able to spend the international summer working really closely, it feels like the three of us got to know each other really well.

"Then I was fortunate enough to play with Belly at the Brave and I feel like we kept information sharing, so it's more, it feels like cashing in on some of that experience that she's passed on to us (rather) than jumping in her grave."

Series schedule:

First ODI: England won by six wickets
Second ODI: England won by six wickets
Third ODI: September 6, Worcester