Ireland have won the toss and elected to bat. Sarah Forbes and Gaby Lewis in the middle. No Amy Hunter today, officially suffering from the ubiquitous 'niggle', so Christina Coulter-Reilly will take the gloves. Forbes gone, brilliantly caught at short cover by Wolvaardt. Stunning! Lewis and CCR going well and looking fluent having added 55 and counting to reach 76-1 at drinks. 50 for Lewis in 55 balls (7 fours, 1 six) - her 15th ODI half century. Partnership approaching 100 as they reach 117-1 at the halfway point. CCR benefitting from a few reprieves but her luck runs out as she's stumped on 37 and stand ended on 99, quickly followed by Lewis as one brings two...and three as Delany hangs the bat and is caught at slip, two in the over for Nonkululeko Mlaba. Prendergast looking assured but falls for just 21 and with her goes Ireland’s hopes of topping 250 today. Paul and Kelly out in the space of two deliveries and then Jane Maguire out first ball - STUMPED!! Sister Aimee follows 5 balls later - All out - 9 balls, 4 wickets, 6 runs. Hard to explain, much less excuse some of what we've just seen there. Wolvaardt and Brits off at the gallop in the chase boundaries flowing and fifty up before Brits edges behind, extra bounce there for Arlene Kelly. Karabo Meso, who spent 2024 at school and playing at Holywood comes to the crease. Fifty for Wolvaardt and South Africa halfway to their target in side 15 overs. Meso charges Aimee Maguire and is stumped, but overall the Irish attack looks toothless - 'samey'. No respite as Suné Luus joins her captain and they match each other shot for shot. South Africa trying to finish this quickly and lose Luus and van Niekerk in quick succession. But the game has long been decided and interest shifts to whether or not Wolvaardt can get to her century - she needs 21 out of 25 runs required, Tunnicliffe giving her every chance as does an Irish misfield that goes for a boundary and in the end it's a single and the winning run that takes her to a well deserved century. The end of a tour that did little to add to what was already known about this Irish side. Fuller review and analysis to follow elsewhere on the site so for now enjoy Christmas and like the post-match soundbite says, 'We go again' in the New Year.

The Proteas have taken Ireland on a nationwide tour, six different venues for the six scheduled games. It has been a case of them showcasing their talents to their fans around the country, and big crowds have turned out to watch. Today it’s the turn of the ‘Friendly City’ and St.Georges Park, famous for the brass band that's already in action. A must-win game for the Girls in Green if they are to prolong the series to the final day-nighter in Johannesburg at the Wanderers on Friday. First blood to Jane Maguire with Tamzin Brits given lbw - looked to be missing leg stump, certainly Amy was over there, but no review and that's good news for the Girls in Green. Wolvaardt looking in ominous form already. Aimee Maguire pitches one in the footmarks and bowls a flabbergasted Goodall. Laura Wolvaardt passes 50 and 1000 ODI runs for 2025. She and Luus have added 100 and counting. Only chance was a run out by Lewis but her throw just missed. Cara Murray, playing her 100th game, has bowled the odd good ball but too many loose ones. Hosts on course for well in excess of 300. 12th ODI hundred for Wolvaardt. Some easy runs on offer, Irish bowling been poor. Aimee Maguire ends the stand at 179 as Wolvaardt is well caught by Stokell above her head at long off. Welcome relief. Or not, as Van Niekerk has hit the ground running and could well become the third centurion of the innings if she gets the strike in the last few overs. Can't get there but that's a record total for SA. Irish bowling dreadful and fielding worse. Truly horrific display as they disintegrated. 119 runs in the last 10 overs. Chase begins badly as Forbes goes in first over but Lewis and Hunter rebuild. Their stand is worth 77 before Lewis pulls a long hop to midwicket. Hunter and Prendergast going well but the required rate continues to climb. The pair make even time 50s but rain is threatening. Record stand of 93 ended as Hunter misses straight one and Delany is the victim of an awful umpiring decision. Leah Paul with a flurry of boundaries as Ireland keep battling as she and Prendergast keep believing. They couldn't, could they? SA drop two catches and Ireland keep swinging. Paul well caught and 125 needed off the last 10 overs. Despair for Prendergast as she's caught in the deep. Deserved a hundred. Stokell goes cheaply. End is nigh. Ireland pass 300 in a great batting effort but in vain. Damage was done earlier. Third and final ODI is on Friday.

After a 90 minute delay due to a damp pitch Gaby Lewis won the Toss and opted to bat first. Ireland up against it again today, relying on the usual suspects at the top of the order to score the runs, so if an upset was to occur it would likely have to come from the bowling unit, although they found wickets hard to come by in the T20s. Starts for everyone in Ireland's innings that saw Sarah Forbes opening with Gaby Lewis and top scoring with 42. Valuable late runs from Rebecca Stokell taking the total past 200. Ireland's 50 over plan has traditionally seen them preserve wickets early on to give themselves a chance of runs later, to post around 220, or 240 on a good day, so their 209 always looked vulnerable against the hosts strong batting line up. So it proved, as South Africa romped home with 10 overs to spare, Suné Luus leading the way in a 125 run partnership with Miané Smit whose 56* was her best ODI score to date. Next match in the series is on Tuesday in Gqeberha, which for those whose language skills do not include Xhosa 'clicks', is perhaps best called Port Elizabeth.

Another change of venue for the final match of the T20 series under the lights at Willowmoore Park. Over five thousand feet up on the Highveld evening thunderstorms are not uncommon and there were a few false starts with players warming up only for them to be ordered off the ground again due to the threat of lightning. The storm finally broke and with the ground totally awash the match was called off 90 minutes after the scheduled start. The T20 series finishes 2-0 to the hosts and we move on to East London on Saturday for the first of 3 ODIs - 8.am start in Ireland.

Four changes in the Irish lineup today as out go: Coulter-Reilly, Little, McBride and Jane Maguire and in come: Stokell, Kelly, Dalzell and Murray. Just one change for the Proteas with Ayabonga Khaka replacing Masabata Klass. An opening partnership of 78 by Suné Luus and Faye Tunnicliffe, who posts a maiden half-century delays the entrance of Laura Wolvaardt. But she becomes one of Aimee Maguire’s three victims, before late runs from Dane van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp and Chloe Tyron carry the hosts past 200. Another sloppy display in the field from Ireland with a couple of simple catches dropped. Thirty three in the Powerplay by Lewis and Hunter, before Lewis is lbw sweeping and Hunter bowled, both in Tyron's next over. Ireland 57/2 after 10 overs making a win Mission Impossible. Orla Prendergast and Leah Paul provide some entertainment adding 50 knocking it around, and then swing away going into the last five overs. Their partnership is worth 76 before Paul exposes her leg stump sweeping and is bowled. Prendergast survives a simple stumping chance in the penultimate over, and goes on to complete her half century in the last (39 balls, 4x4, 1x6). Something to cheer for the Girls in Green today, but hard to see a change of fortune for them in Wednesday's final game of the series.

The hosts were beaten finalists in both the T20 and ODI World Cups so a massive challenge ahead for the Girls in Green. Jane Maguire with an early wicket but Laura Wolvaardt looks in ominous form for the hosts as 63 runs come from the six overs of the powerplay. SA record half century for Wolvaardt who takes just 24 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes) as the runs keep flowing despite best efforts of Aimee Maguire. SA reach 104-1 at the halfway point with a hundred partnership between Wolvaardt and Sune Luus. Carnage continues as Luus reaches 50 and Wolvaardt approaches her century as the hosts target a total of 200 plus. Relief as Ava Canning bowls Luus for 81 - stand of 176 is a South African record. Wolvaardt reaches her second T20I hundred from 52 balls. Been a great innings. SA finish on a record total of 220 for 2, helped by a truly abject fielding display and a very poor bowling one. Disastrous start to the chase with both Hunter and Prendergast gone in the first over, followed by a maiden, Finally some cheer for the Irish as Gaby Lewis is up and running with a flurry of boundaries. Lewis goes for 30 sweeping a poor ball straight to fine leg. Leah Paul enjoying herself with some improvisation as they reach 64-3 at the midway point. Game long over as a contest - all about respectability and the margin of defeat. Paul gone for a well made 34 quickly followed by Coulter-Reilly, Laura Delany and Ava Canning - four wickets for Luus. Louise Little thumps a few but picks out mid-off. Mlaba brings the game to a conclusion bowling Jane Maguire and Lara McBride in quick succession to seal the comprehensive win. The teams meet again on Sunday in the second T20I.

With Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast not in today's XI, Ireland's place in the Global Qualifier already secured, Laura Delany batting at number three cashed in with a 57 ball 91, stumped in the final over as she sought to make three figures. She and Amy Hunter added 139 for the second wicket which only fell in the eighteenth over. With Ireland's attack lacking the cutting edge of Prendergast Annie Wikman and Chloe Piparo took advantage to plunder early runs bringing up the 50 in 7 overs with Ireland being made to look very ordinary. The second wicket fell at 91 in the twelfth over and with scoreboard pressure mounting the likelihood was that more would follow. That was indeed the case with Delany’s late surge in Ireland’s innings proving decisive. Italy’s innings ended with the fall of their ninth wicket, Emma Moore unable to bat.

Ireland stay unbeaten with what on the face of it was a comfortable 7 wicket win. However the game went into the final over as they chased down the modest target set by the hosts. An Arlene Kelly ‘five-for’ the highlight of Ireland’s performance in the field as the final eight wickets fell for only 39 runs. Christina Coulter Reilly again took over Amy Hunter’s duties both with the gloves and as Lewis’ opening partner. She was bowled playing across the line for just two but Orla Prendergast and Gaby Lewis added 89 and the second wicket fell with just 10 required when Prendergast edged behind just missing out on a deserved half-century. The scores were tied when Lewis tried to pierce the ring of fielders driving a catch to extra cover. Unlikely as it had looked we are going into the last over! Amy Hunter hits to extra and takes off for the riskiest of singles - the throw that would have seen her run out by yards misses and Ireland win with just five balls to spare.

Ireland took advantage of their win at the Toss to get in some batting practice with Gaby Lewis dropping down the order and Christina Coulter Reilly taking over her opening spot and Amy Hunter’s wicket keeping duties. A 67 ball century for Amy and an unbeaten half century from Leah Paul in Ireland’s total. Germany’s reply mustered even less than they managed against the Netherlands yesterday with no one managing to reach double figures and extras top scoring with 12. Two wickets each for Leah Paul and Laura Delany in this predictably one-sided encounter.

Ireland were asked to bat and they did just that. Runs shared among the usual suspects with only four wickets falling in a solid batting performance. Ilenia Sims the most successful of the Azzurre claiming the wickets of Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul. No real prospect of a successful chase for Italy after the early loss of Elilia Bartram and Ilenia Sims. A double strike in her opening over from Arlene Kelly and a third in her third over sealed the Italians fate.

Hosts Netherlands set Ireland a testing total after opting to bat first with the Girls in Green needing the big guns to fire in the chase and they made an explosive start with long-hops and half-volleys dispatched to all parts. The opening partnership of 65 off 46 broken when Amy Hunter dragged a bottom edge onto her stumps. Lewis powered on to a half century off 36 with Orla Prendergast up and running at better than a run-a-ball. Prendergast edged behind with just 24 needed and Leah Paul joined Lewis. Down to 13 required off 2 overs when a run out was missed and it cost an overthrow into the bargain - Luck of the Irish? A misfield costs the hosts another chance of a run out before a Lewis boundary eases the pressure. Ireland looked a bit frantic there for an over or so but a win's a win in a game that was closer that the final margin suggests.

Ireland failed to make it 10 wins in a row as Pakistan ended the T20I series on a high with an eight wickets victory at Clontarf. The visitors chased down their target of 156 with 14 balls to spare thanks an undefeated century by wicket-keeper and opening batter Muneeb Ali. She was helped by three dropped catches, all after reaching her 50 as Ireland’s fielding let them down for the first time in the series. Muneeb brought up her 100 with the winning run, from 68 balls with 14 fours and a six in an unbroken stand of 101 with Aliya Riaz who scored 39. Ava Canning and Lara McBride were the Ireland wicket-takers with Prendergast the unluckiest of the other bowlers, on the receiving end of two of the dropped catches. Prendergast was Ireland's top scorer in their 155 for four, finishing 64 not out from 46 balls with eight boundaries, a total matched by skipper Gaby Lewis, playing her 100th T20I, in her innings of just 36. That allowed Ireland to score 52 in the powerplay, however from 79 for one at halfway, Ireland could not even double their score and that, in the end, proved fatal, although they do win their second successive series against Pakistan 2-1.

Jane Maguire hit the last ball of the match for six to give Ireland their ninth successive victory – for the first time ever - and a series victory against Pakistan with one game to play. It was the first ball that Maguire had faced having come to wicket when Ava Canning was stumped of the penultimate delivery with four runs required for victory. Player of the match went to Rebecca Stokell who had led the late charge with 34 off 16 balls (five fours) in a fifth wicket partnership of 49 with Laura Delany whose 42 came off 34 balls. Stokell’s late heroics pipped Orla Prendergast to the individual award as Ireland’s star all-rounder followed up her economical figures of one for 22 with 51 from 34 (four fours and two sixes). With five overs to go, Pakistan were 131 for three but Ireland restricted them to 168 for six with wickets for Cara Murray and Prendergast. The final game of the series is back at Clontarf on Sunday.

Ireland made it eight T20I's wins on the bounce with a fully deserved 11 run win against a rusty Pakistan side who hadn't played in the format for over a year. Amy Hunter top-scored with 37, while there were runs too for Orla Prendergast (29) and Leah Paul (28) in a total of 142 - four wickets for Fatima Sana. The chase stalled as they slumped to 54 for 5 in the 12th over - strangled by a four-over spell of 1-9 by Ava Canning. They threatened briefly through Natalia Pervaiz (29) and Rameen Shamim (27) but left themselves too much to do. Prendergast's three wickets saw her get the Player of the Match award, while Jane Maguire took 2-20 in an 11-run win. The teams meet again on Friday when Ireland will look to wrap up the series.

Gaby Lewis made it back-to-back half centuries and Player-of-the-Match awards as Ireland took an unassailable 2-0 series lead against a poor Zimbabwe team at Sydney Parade. The skipper shared a second wicket stand of 131 with Orla Prendergast, who made 52 on her home ground. The chase never got going as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 111 - three wickets again for Cara Murray, while Leah Paul and Orla Prendergast took two each in a convincing 65-run win.

Three wickets for Cara Murray and two for Arlene Kelly restricted Zimbabwe to 117 for 9 in the opening T20I at Pembroke. Ireland struggled initially in the chase to reach 54 for 2 at the halfway stage. Skipper Gaby Lewis then switched gears, hitting 67 as her side took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series winning by six wickets in the 17th over.

Jane Maguire with an early wicket for Ireland, Prendergast with the 2nd and Canning the 3rd as the Scots struggled in the powerplay. But a dominant second half to their innings propelled Scotland to an impressive total as the Irish bowling and catching again cracked when put under pressure enabling them to add 52 in the final five overs, skipper Katheryn Bryce finishing a magnificent 131 not out. Good opening partnership ends at 109 and Amy Hunter goes first ball. Wickets falling with no one able to go on - all down to Laura Delany in the closing overs, and Jane Maguire who is swinging at everything! Two missed run outs saves Maguire and Delany dropped - Scotland throwing this away! But Lister catches Maguire to leave 7 needed off Kathryn Bryce's final over. Dot, 1, 4 first ball from Canning! W (bowled), lb scores tied, lb wins it!

Ireland piled up the runs against the weakest side in the Qualifier - an 88 run opening partnership between Sarah Forbes and Gaby Lewis followed by another, Lewis and Amy Hunter adding 56. Ireland with their usual top six today, but three changes down the order Louise Little, Sophia MacMahon and a debut for Kia McCartney, in for Christina Coulter-Reilly, Arlene Kelly and Jane Maguire. Laura Delany and Leah Paul added 86 in the final ten overs. No real pressure on the bowlers today but disappointing for them to allow Thailand to post 250+, including a partnership of 90 for the fifth wicket, when they had been bowled out for just 93 by Bangladesh and 148 by Scotland. A win's a win and at this stage Ireland will take anything. Five wickets for Louise Little, will that keep her in the side for the final game against Scotland?

A more aggressive batting approach paid off for Ireland with contribution all down the order after the early dismissal of Sarah Forbes. With Laura Delany posting a half century in a 72 run partnership with Orla Prendergast and late runs from Arlene Kelly Ireland’s total of 235 looked to have given them a real chance of victory. With early strikes from Orla Prendergast and disciplined bowling Bangladesh found themselves struggling to keep themselves in the game. Wickets fell at regular intervals and coming into the final five overs needing 38 Bangladesh had Ritu Moni to thank for the win as she added 32 to her personal total finishing the game with an imperious six over long on with eight balls to spare. Questions though as to why Orla Prendergast bowled only 6 of her possible 10 overs in such a vital game.

Delayed start and match reduced to 33 overs with Ireland choosing to field. Ireland dragging things back after a Hayley Matthews opening blast. West Indies looked to accelerate after drinks with a Taylor and James stand worth 85 going into the last 10. Not a time for one of Ireland’s worst displays in the field but that’s what we saw. Great start to the chase with Hunter quickly to 30 and Lewis also looking fluent in their half century opening stand. How quickly things change once the Big Three departed. Delany and Coulter-Reilly ticking along - 60 required off 8 overs. Hanging in there but losing wickets and 26 needed from 24 balls. Down to the last last pair and 8 needed off 6 balls. Kelly goes for glory trying to clear the ropes but caught at long-on. Beaten by six runs. That awful fielding effort has cost them.

Ireland threw away the chance to record a win in their opening fixture with an all too familiar batting collapse. A strong display in the field saw Ireland restrict Pakistan to a sub-par total of 217. Sidra Ameen and Aliya Riaz had added 72 for the third wicket but after their departure the pressure told and they lost their last five wickets for just 23 runs. With both Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter posting 44 Ireland were well placed in the chase but both fell in quick succession sweeping at spinner Sandhu before Laura Delany followed without scoring in identical fashion to give Sandhu her third. Four wickets falling for 14 runs left Ireland last two wickets requiring fifty runs and that was never going to happen.

A double wicket maiden by ninth bowler Alana Dalzell swung things Ireland's way after Thailand had reached 149/4 in the 35th over. Amy Hunter and Orla Prendergast go cheaply in a rejigged batting order, but Sarah Forbes did well for her 31 before retiring. Leah Paul and Christine Coulter-Reilly both gone before 100 on the board. Delany and Louise Little restore Ireland's fortunes with what looks will be a match defining sixth wicket partnership of 119 in 20 overs before they both depart - Delany retiring at the same time as Little is dismissed. Arlene Kelly and Ava Canning ensure the win as Ed Joyce's side get a morale boosting win ahead of their first match proper against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Skipper Gaby Lewis batted fluently to make 45 before retiring, and it was then down to former captain Laura Delany. She made an unbeaten 67 sharing half century stands with Leah Paul and Cara Murray as Ed Joyce's side do well to make 248 for 8. Windies openers Matthews and James added 90 before Cara Murray made the breakthrough. Zia McCartney claimed her first senior scalp and Murray added two more, but the Windies always looked to have things under control easing home with more than eight overs to spare Stephanie Taylor completing a better than a run-a-ball half century. Ireland's final warmup game is on Monday versus Thailand.

A new record ODI score for India as openers Smriti Mandhana and Prakita Rawal both posted centuries in an opening partnership of 233 giving an indication of what was in store for Ireland’s bowlers. No let up in the second half of the innings as Richa Ghosh blasted a half century (10x4, 1x6). One commentator saying if it had been a boxing match the referee would have stepped in long ago! Gaby Lewis gone in the first over LBW missing a pull shot and Christina Coulter Reilly is bowled without scoring, not the start Ireland were hoping for. Two 'new' spinners await the Girls in Green today - Tanuja Kanwar a slow left armer and off spinner Minnu Mani. Promising third wicket stand of 64 is ended with the dismissal of Prendergast, quickly followed by the run out of Forbes. Wickets continued to tumble on a day to forget.

Ireland's attack put to the sword as an opening partnership of 156 set India on their way to their highest ever ODI total. Runs all down the order and a sparkling maiden ODI century for Jemima Rodrigues. Ireland without Aimee Maguire and although Laura Delany is in the side she didn't bowl today. There was no prospect of a successful Irish chase but a maiden half-century for Christina Coulter Reilly in 50+ partnerships with Sarah Forbes and Laura Delany on a day when there was no contribution from Gaby Lewis or Orla Prendergast will cheer the Irish camp as they better their match 1 total.

A record breaking fifth wicket partnership of 117 between skipper Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul rescued Ireland for a precarious 56/4, and aided by a sloppy display in the field by India enabled the visitors to post a respectable total in this first of three ODIs. It was made to look very inadequate however as the hosts romped home with more than 16 overs to spare despite resting their leading strike bowler Ranuka Singh and regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Pratika Rawal took full advantage of a chance to open the innings scoring a run-a-ball 89, falling to a third catch by Orla Prendergast, a third wicket for Aimee Maguire, as Rawal chased a maiden ODI century. Next match in the series is on Sunday, same time, same place. India's win moves them into second place in the Championship table above England.