

Joyce stars as Ireland defeat gritty China
Ireland Women made it two from two in their T20 World Cup Cup Qualifiers in Bangkok on Sunday morning with a hard-fought 28-run win over a gritty China team.
The match marked a 100th cap for Cecilia Joyce - a wonderful achievement for the 32-year old - however it was twin sister Isobel who drove the Irish girls to their vital win.
Having won the toss and opted to bat first, Ireland weren't at their fluent best early on and had struggled to reach just 34-4 heading to the half-way point of their innings. Skipper Isobel Joyce proved the Irish saviour just when her team needed it.
Joyce hit three fours in a priceless unbeaten 41 and found good support from Laura Delany (19) as the pair added 40 for the 5th wicket.
A couple of late run outs slowed progress again at the end of the Irish batting effort and a final total of 104 for 6 looked competitive but not insurmountable.
Ireland needed to start well with the ball and that they did as Lucy O'Reilly and skipper Joyce combined to remove openers Sun Mengyao (4) and Zhou Caiyun (6). Robyn Lewis accounted for Zhao Ning for 7 however China skipper Huang Zhuo was proving a lot more troublesome.
Isobel Joyce (2-11) and O'Reilly (2-18) again bowled brilliantly for Ireland as wickets tumbled at the other end and Huang finally ran out of time in her lone defiance. She was unbeaten on 39 at the end of the 20 overs as the Chinese reply closed on 76 for 7.
It was a relatively comfortable win in the end as the depth and experience of the Irish bowling unit proved too much for China's batting but there were some anxious moments along the way.
Skipper Joyce was awarded the player-of-the-match award for another excellent day with both bat and ball.
The ladies get a day off on Monday before their third and final group match against Zimbabwe on Tuesday as the competition then enters its crucial stage later in the week.
A win over Zimbabwe would see the Irish avoiding tournament favourites Bangladesh in the semi-finals, with Scotland the likely semi-final opponents.
- Ciara Metcalfe after Ireland beat China (29 November, ©CricketEurope)
- Cecelia Joyce who won her 100th cap as Ireland defeated China (29 November, ©CricketEurope)
- China warm up
- China at TCG
- Cecelia Joyce about to receive her 100th cap
- Isobel and Cecelia Joyce with Clare Shillington. The three players who have won 100 caps.
- Cecelia Joyce after receiving her 100th cap
- Aaron Hamilton congratulates Cecelia Joyce on her 100th cap.
- Cecelia Joyce
- Cecelia Joyce wearing her cap proudly
- Captains with Allan Haggo
- Toss won by Ireland who opted to bat
- Captains exchange bats
- Boundary for Cecelia Joyce
- Thumped by Cecelia Joyce
- Steaming in
- Edged past the keeper
- Return to Chai
- Ruan appeals for lbw
- Yuan bowling
- China celebrate
- Wide
- Kim Garth
- Nearly a run out
- Cecelia Joyce
- Cecelia Joyce caught behind by Chai
- Successful appeal by Wu
- Delight for Wu
- Wu congratulated
- Wu all smiles
- Well flighted
- Pulled by Cath Dalton
- Mix up sees Kim Garth run out
- Cath Dalton is bowled
- The end of Cath Dalton
- China celebrate
- Li bowling
- Thumped away
- Runs for Isobel Joyce
- Steaming in
- Top scorer Isobel Joyce
- Laura Delany offers a caught and bowled chance
- Laura Delany drives back at Wu
- Laura Delany is run out
- Mang Weng appeals
- Runs for Isobel Joyce
- Anguish for Wang
- Well flighted
- Shauna Kavanagh is run out
- Mary Waldron
- Safely in
- Flowing drive
- Laura Delany bowling
- Laura Delany appeals
- Leaping take by Mary Waldron
- Wicket for Lucy O'Reilly
- Ireland celebrate the wicket
- Ciara Metcalfe
- Ciara Metcalfe bowling
- Lofted drive
- Lucy O'Reilly
- Lucy O'Reilly bowling
- Driven away
- Isobel Joyce bowling
- Zhou is bowled by Isobel Joyce
- Joyce sisters with their trademark celebration
- Lofted into the deep
- Kim Garth bowling
- Kim Garth of Ireland
- Swept away
- Huge appeal by Robyn Lewis
- Robyn Lewis appeal declined
- Catch held by Clare Shillington
- Robyn Lewis congratulated
- Direct hit gets the run out
- Isobel Joyce celebrates the run out
- Runs for Zhuang
- Skied
- Congratulations for Isobel Joyce
- Mary Waldron gets the run out
- Chai is bowled
- Isobel Joyce gets Player of the Match award from Allan Haggo
- Isobel Joyce with her Player of the Match award
- Cecelia Joyce congratulated by Cricket Ireland President Dr Murray Power
- Photobomb from Mary YO Waldron