Gaby Lewis ruled out of series with quad strain as Ireland Women suffer another injury blow ahead of 2nd ODI

BELFAST – Ireland Women have lost their second captain in a week due to injury with Gaby Lewis being forced to withdraw as a result of a quad strain.

Lewis scored a century on Tuesday in the second T20I against Sri Lanka, then took over captaincy duties for the ODI series after Laura Delany sustained an injury on the field. However, Lewis herself has now been forced out of the remainder of the ODI series with a quad strain.

Orla Prendergast will step into the captaincy for the first time at the international level (the 19^th player to captain Ireland Women) with Arlene Kelly named vice-captain. Christina Coulter Reilly joins the squad as cover.

Ed Joyce, Head Coach of Ireland Women, said:

“After the high of a first-ever ODI win against the Sri Lankans, Gaby’s injury – off the back of Laura’s [Delany] injury – is another blow for this young squad. Apart from the on-field leadership they offer, Laura and Gaby have together amassed over 350 caps of experience, which is a lot to now be without. 

“The more positive view, though, is that the hard work we have done in the last two years has allowed us to develop a greater depth of talent – it will stretch our resources, but I believe in the talent this squad has.

“Orla is new to captaincy at this level, but has led at club level before – she has an analytical cricket mind and game intelligence, so I have confidence in her to bring her wide-ranging skill set to this new role.”

SQUADS

The Ireland Women’s ODI squad:

• Orla Prendergast (c) (Pembroke), Ava Canning (Leinster), Christina Coulter Reilly (Clontarf), Alana Dalzell (Bready), Sarah Forbes (Pembroke), Amy Hunter (Instonians/Malahide), Arlene Kelly (Malahide), Joanna Loughran (Leinster), Aimee Maguire (The Hills), Jane Maguire (The Hills), Leah Paul (Merron), Freya Sargent (Clontarf), Rebecca Stokell (Merrion), Alice Tector (Phoenix).

The touring Sri Lanka Women's squad is:

• Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Kawya Kavindi, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, Sachini Nisansala, Inoshi Fernando, Shashini Gimhani, Ama Kanchana, Kaushini Nuthyangana.

Remaining FIXTURES

ODIs:

• 18 August 2024: Ireland vs Sri Lanka – 2^nd ODI (Stormont; start 10.45 am)