Ireland hopes breakthrough T20WC win inspires a generation

What a couple of days to be an Irish cricket fan.

While the Men's team notched a maiden T20I win over India, the Women's side also made history by sealing their first ever ICC Women's T20 World Cup victory, in their 22nd attempt at the tournament.

Ireland claimed a six-wicket win over the semi-finals-bound West Indies in Bristol, off the back of all-round heroics from star Orla Prendergast (1/29 from four overs and 63 off 44 balls).

It's reward for a lot of hard work and determination, along with a willingness to learn from every experience, according to coach Lloyd Tennant. Ireland simply refused to become disheartened by the unwanted piece of history.

"It's been a great learning experience," Tennant said after their historic win.

"We've played well at times and come the wrong end of a result, and we haven't performed to our best at other times. So it was lovely today to get everything together and get across the line. 

"We executed perfectly almost today. But we always knew that if we could get the game together, if we could bat and bowl well together, then we'd get that win. And the other thing that people have probably criticized the side for— our field in the past has not been great, but we've been a unit out in the middle and we've looked much better in the field."

When speaking to media post-game, Tennant sent out a reminder that the average age of the squad is just 23 years of age, implying how much improvement remains for this developing team.

"Everyone wants to grow a bit quicker, but I think with the age of the squad, we have to have some patience," he continued.

"We don't play in these competitions every day, so these are massive learning circles for us, and we'll take a lot from it."

"I think that to get the win is massive, it's a great day and all that, but I think on a bigger scale, the girls have got belief that, if we can continue to grow and grow quick enough and develop as a team, where can we get to? How many great days like this can we have? So it's given us a lot of belief that we can compete with the best teams."

To produce that performance as Ireland's Men's side also pulled off a breakthrough victory will do wonders for the momentum of the sport in Ireland.

"I think it will be huge, it'll get a lot of press, it'll be great for women's cricket," Tennant continued.

"The men winning yesterday was that will go worldwide, won't it? So hopefully it's a big occasion for us.

"I'm hoping more and more people sit and put the telly on and watch it. If we get that, even if people come and support or they want to get involved in cricket clubs, that's growing the game for us."

The group will now enjoy five days off before committing to a short training block ahead of their three-game bilateral ODI series against the team they just beat, the West Indies, starting July 10. All three games are in Bready, Northern Ireland.

Tennant knows it will take some adjusting for both sides moving up to the ODI format.

"We've played so much T20 leading up, I think a 50-over game is going to feel long, the first oneI'm hoping that the things we've done, we can just extend so that we will come out the right side of a couple of results. We know it's going to be tough. Obviously West Indies are a good side, and in general, I suppose they're going to be expected to beat us. But we think if we get things right, we can compete and push them."