WT20Q team preview: Ireland

Overview

Ireland come into the tournament having won their last T20 match against Bangladesh in Dublin in dramatic fashion.

In that game, the second last-ball thriller of a three-match series Ireland lost 2-1, skipper Laura Delaney and No.3 Gaby Lewis put on a superb 97-run stand before the ever-calm Isobel Joyce sealed victory chasing a Bangladesh record score of 151/4.

The series, in which Ireland’s women gave a strong account of themselves, followed a torrid experience against New Zealand. The White Ferns piled on record after record in Ireland, putting a succession of mammoth totals past an inexperienced bowling attack to register a 10-wicket T20 win, and victories by the gargantuan margins of 346 runs, 306 runs and 305 runs in the three ODIs.

Heading to the Netherlands, captain Delaney was in confident mood.

“If we play the way we know we can and with the confidence we have gained in recent weeks, we have to believe we are capable of qualifying for the World T20 in the Caribbean in November. None of the three sides we are coming up against in the early stage of the qualifiers will be easy games.

“However, we hope the momentum we have gained from the recent Bangladesh series will flow through to the next 10 days of the qualifiers. When we walk out on the field on Saturday, I think we will be as ready as we possibly could be,” she said.

“If we play to our abilities then we will have a good chance to progress. We have experienced hands like Isobel Joyce, Cecelia Joyce (leading scorer in the 2015 edition), Clare Shillington and Ciara Metcalfe who have been there and performed successfully on the international stage over many years. We’re excited to see Kim Garth getting back to full fitness – Kim’s performances in the Women’s Big Bash League are well-known and her bowling has been sorely missed for our side this season.

“Gaby Lewis is in red-hot form with the bat – two T20I half-centuries registered in the last month against quality opposition (New Zealand and Bangladesh respectively) have given her the self-belief that, despite being just 17-years old, she can really show her talent off at this tournament. Lucy O’Reilly is another vital addition that returns to the national squad from absence and will undoubtedly play a key role as part of our bowling unit,” she said.

History in the WWT20

Ireland placed third in the first WWT20 Qualifier and won the 2015 edition, but in nine matches across the 2014 and 2016 tournaments proper they are yet to register a victory.

Schedule

7 July: v Thailand
8 July: v Scotland
10 July: v Uganda

**Squad:**Laura Delany (c), Kim Garth, Cecelia Joyce, Isobel Joyce, Shauna Kavanagh, Gaby Lewis, Lara Maritz, Ciara Metcalfe, Cara Murray, Lucy O'Reilly, Eimear Richardson, Clare Shillington, Rebecca Stokell, Mary Waldron