NEW ZELAND SNATCH VICTORY FROM JAWS OF DEFEAT AGAINST IRELAND

ICC 10th WOMEN's WORLD CUP - Match 13 – New Zealand v Ireland at Southampton on 19 June 2026

Result – New Zealand beat Ireland by 4 runs
Points – New Zealnd 2(2), Ireland 0(0)
Toss – Ireland
Umpires – Eloise Sheridan, Sue Redfern, Shathira Jakir (TV)
Player of the Match – Amelia Kerr

Match Centre Link - You can view the scorecard, watch highlights and engage more at Match Centre of ICC. The match can be accessed here. 

NEW ZEALAND INNINGS

SPOT OF BOTHER
The 13^th match of the 10th Womens T20 World Cup featured New Zealand and Ireland. Both the teams were both trying to land their first win in the tournament. The 13^th match on a Friday gave an eerie feel but despite the two losses, New Zealand were expected to bounce back to winning ways. NZ finally had Suzie Bates in the squad as the other legend Sophie Devine got injured. NZ won the toss and chose to bat. Isabella Gaze & Georgia Plimmer took the crease while Aimee Maguire opened the bowling for Ireland. Aimee and Ireland won the first over. Georgia charged down every ball from the 4^th ball. She got four from fourth, missed the fifth one and then gave Arlene Kelly a easy catch at mid on. A wide later, Orla Prendergast delivered a blow from the opposite end when she had the stumps of Isabelle Gaze as she mistimed her scoop. Experienced campaigners Amelia Kerr and Maddy Green were trying to recover. Arlene bowled a good over first change. However Orla continuing from the other end, continued her streak of first ball bowled. This time Maddy mistimed her drive only to find her middle stump broken. Melie struck a good four on 4.4 to signal some vibes. She did well in the 6^th over scooping & cutting Arlene for successive boundaries that opened boundaries of success for NZ. Even after those 3 boundaries by Amelie, NZ were in a spot of bother with score reading 31/3 after powerplay.

A STEADY PARTNERSHIP
Cara Murray was brought in for the 7^th over and it was some hurray for NZ as Melie and Brooke Halliday struck a boundary each. After a quite over by Lara Bride, Cara Murray shouted hurray, as Amelie done in by the flighted delivery, was caught by Louise Little at deep midwicket. Brooke Halliday and Izzy Sharp had an uphill task as NZ score read 59/4 at the half way mark. Both the batters set up a good partnership running hard and finding a boundary per over. Izzy led the partnership while Brooke played second fiddle. The duo batted confidently and suddenly Irish bowlers didn’t look like getting a wicket. The partnership raised 58 in 44 balls as NZ were 106/4 with the death overs to go.

NO GATES FOR BATES
Cara found flight and wicket again as Brooke miscued the ball and Lara had no problems taking a catch at point. And much like Stafanie Taylor in the last match, her fellow veteran of 9 World Cups, Suzie Bates made her 10^th WC appearance at a difficult time. The leading run getter in Women T20 World Cups coming in at Number 7 proved ideal for NZ. Suzie & Izzy ran hard for 7 runs in the 18^th over. Izzy who played a good innings so far was done by Arlene’s leg break in the 4^th ball giving Ireland one more wicket. In the last ball of the 19^th over, Suzie reverse pulled a boundary which was back in the proceedings after a 7 over break. Orla Prendergast mixed up the final over well confining NZ to ones and twos. However Suzie Bates decided to close the match with a bang as she pulled down the leg for a sixer even as she lost balance. NZ finished at 140/6. The total was achieved because of Melie’s early blitz, the partnership between Brooke & Izzy and the finishing flair by Suzie.

IRELAND INNINGS

THE INITIAL EDGE 
NZ bowlers have allowed two chases and had an even moderate total this time around. But NZ bowlers were expected to stifle Ireland and ensure a first win for NZ. Rose Mary opened the bowling at Rose Bowl as Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter took crease for IRE. Rose found some swing while IRE could find only 3 runs in the first over. Bree Illing yorked Amy Hunter in the 5^th ball of the 2^nd over and claimed the first wicket. Gaby and Orla Prendergast found a boundary each in the next 2 overs and picked up singles quite comfortably. When Nensi & spin were introduced IRE were going good at 20/1 after 4. Spin made no difference as both batters got a boundary each in the over. Bree came to close the power play and there was a brave attempt by Nensi for a catch, in vain. IRE were 35/1 and fared much better than NZ in powerplay.

PROPER PARTNERSHIP
Melie introduced herself in the 7^th over and bowled out Bree in the 8^th over. While Melie came back to continue the 9^th over, Nensi bowled the 10^th over making it spin from both ends for the first time. NZ were once again marginally ahead with score reading 57/1 at half way mark. Spin made way for pace as NZ shifted to Rose & Jess for the next two overs.. IRE scored 13 runs in the 13^th over bowled by Nensi with both Orla and Gaby getting a boundary each. Orla & Gaby were putting up a great partnership that was slowly yet steadily bringing IRE to contention. Melie brought herself for the 14^th and conceded a six to Orla who pulled one over deep square leg. Jess followed her sister Melie and Rose complemented pace with pace for the 15^th & 16^th overs. But there was no stopping the Orla – Gaby partnership and NZ were unable to break this partnership. At the end of 16 overs, IRE were in the winning position. They were 107/1 after 16 overs with both Orla and Gaby well set with half century each. While Orla got to her fifty when she flicked Jess square on the leg side at 14.6. Skipper Gaby secured her half century at 15.5 when she pushed one from Rose to long on. The partnership had also crossed hundred. IRE just needed 34 from 24 with 9 wickets in hand and at this moment, it seemed that NZ were heading to another straight defeat.

TWIST IN THE TALE
Jess Kerr bowled the 17^th over and gave away just 5 runs. Ireland needed 29 from 3 and the partnership which was steady so far needed to swash buckle. The pressure and inexperience of Ireland started to show in. In search of a boundary, Orla slog swept Melie to deep mid wicket where Maddy was waiting for the catch. The 110 run partnership was finally broken and NZ sighted a glimmer of hope. Melie made merry in the last ball when Rebecca Stokell (who couldn’t sweep the previous ball) came charging down only to hand a catch at mid off to Jess. Rebecca’s err was pounced by Kerrs – c J Kerr b A Kerr. The equation became more difficult for Ireland as they needed to hit 25 from 12. Louis Little who played a good cameo last match joined her skipper at the crease. Rose started with a couple of singles. Gaby released the pressure by sweeping a yorker fine for a boundary. Rose showed nerves when she bowled a wide ball. 7 from 3 sounded good. If Orla got out in 17.4, Gaby shut all Irish hopes in 18.4 when she hit one straight to Suzie Bates at cover. It was no stopping Suzie day for NZ. Ireland needed 15 from the last over and Suzie was handed the ball this time, her first over of the match. Suzie ensured NZ scored 14 in the last over. She had to now ensure that IRE don’t score 14 in the last over. Suzie didn’t give Leah Paul any room and at the best Leah & Louise could just run 3 twos in the first 3 balls. They needed 9 from the last 3 and desperately needed a boundary. A good effort by Brooke on the field ensured just a single of the 4^th ball. Louis ran two in the 5^th ball. IRE needed a six of the last ball and the batter who did it for NZ was having the ball. Suzie bowled a very slow ball on good length and Louis’s heave to the long on could just fetch IRE a single. NZ who looked all last before 4 overs came back to win the match by 4 runs. Skipper Melie’s 17^th over and Suzie’s composure in the last over saved the day for NZ., You had to feel sad for IRE as they came within striking distance of creating history and were suddenly struck by pressure. A huge relief for NZ. IRE should be proud of the fight