IRE-W vs AUS-W, 2nd ODI Review: Georgina Dempsey stars with ball but Australia too good for Ireland in Clontarf

DUBLIN – Georgina Dempsey claimed a career-best 4-54 but it wasn’t enough to overcome a rampant Australian side in Clontarf on July 25.

After winning the toss, Ireland chose to bowl first under cool blue skies. Orla Prendergast made an early breakthrough, knocking back Phoebe Litchfield’s off stump, but the experienced pair of Alyssa Healy (24) and Ellyse Perry began setting the foundations for the Australian innings. Both batters looked comfortable at the crease, working the ball for ones and twos, and punishing anything over-pitched or wide.

With Australia in cruise control, enter 18-year old Georgina Dempsey. The YMCA all-rounder cleaned up Healy with the second ball of her second over, then induced Tahlia McGrath to play a loose drive first up and playing the ball on to put Dempsey on a hat-trick.

Beth Mooney saw off the hat-trick ball then she and Perry began to hit out in a 106-run stand. As Perry sailed past fifty, Mooney played the foil, turning the strike over effortlessly. The pair were threatening to take the game away from the home side until Cara Murray struck with her first of two wickets, bowling Mooney for 49.

Perry was joined by Ashleigh Gardner and the runs once more flowed. Gardner was the chief aggressor striking three maximums and seven fours in a 39-ball 65. But Perry was the first of the pair to perish, falling on 91 to a brilliant diving catch at mid-off by Gaby Lewis giving Dempsey her third wicket.

Gardner became Dempsey’s fourth victim as the wickets began to tumble – but the visitors kept the scoring rate high. A 37 to Annabel Sutherland and a 29* to Georgia Wareham gave Australia a boost at the death – 51 coming from the final five overs.

Australia finished on 321-7 from their 50 overs, with Dempsey finishing with a career-best 4-54 from 10 overs. One injury concern for Ireland was keeper Mary Waldron who left the field with a leg injury which will be assessed shortly by medical professionals.

The Irish response started with solid intent – Leah Paul and Gaby Lewis putting on 20 in the first six overs – however, Paul fell for 5, trapped in front by former Irish vice-captain and current Australian international Kim Garth.

Lewis was joined then by Amy Hunter and the pair put on 89 for the second wicket off the next 15 overs. Lewis (37 off 51 balls) looked to settle in for a long stay, while Hunter looked to hit through the line and struck two sixes and four fours in registering her second career ODI half-century.

At 109-1, Ireland looked comfortable, but once the Lewis-Hunter partnership was broken, the home side’s resistance began to crumble. In all, Ireland lost 59-8 in just over 17 overs, to finish on 168-9 from 38.2 overs – with Waldron unable to bat.

The two sides return on Friday (July 28) for the last match of the series at the same venue.

MATCH SUMMARY

Ireland Women v Australia Women, 2^nd ODI, Clontarf, 25 July 2023

Australia 221-7 (50 overs:  E Perry 91, A Gardner 65; G Dempsey 4-54)

Ireland 168-9 (38.2 overs; A Hunter 50, G Lewis 37; G Wareham 3-33)