IRE W vs AUS W | Lanning's heroics helps Australia thrash Ireland by 63 runs

Australia women defeated their Irish counterparts in the fourth match of the ongoing T20I Tri-series in Bready last night, riding on sparkling seventies from Meg Lanning and Tahlia McGrath. 

Australia post a challenging total, courtesy of Lanning and McGrath’s magnificent knocks

Lanning and McGrath chose to counterattack, which paid rich dividends for the tourists. The experienced duo stitched a match-winning stand of 135 runs off just 83 balls, batting Ireland out of the match.

While skipper Lanning slammed a 49-ball 74, McGrath smashed her way through to a blistering 45-ball 70, including eleven gorgeous boundaries. 

The efforts of these two players took Australia to 182; the highest first innings total in this series. Georgina Dempsey was the pick of the Irish bowlers, grabbing two wickets for 35 runs in her four overs. 

Ireland’s poor run with the bat hands them third successive defeat 

Chasing a mammoth total of 183 against a formidable Australian attack was going to be an uphill task for the Irish women. Things became even tougher for the hosts as they lost Rebecca Stokell and Gaby Lewis inside four overs. 

Although Orla Prendergast and Laura Delany tried to steady the ship by adding 36 runs for the third wicket, both were dismissed within nine deliveries by Alana King and Darcie Brown, respectively. 

Ireland never seemed to be in the game thereafter and eventually finished their innings on 119 for seven at the end of twenty overs. 

Brief scores

Australia Women: 182/4 (20) 

Meg Lanning 74(49), Tahlia McGrath 70(45);

Georgia Dempsey 2/35 (4)

Ireland Women: 119/7 (20)

Orla Prendergast 25(22);

Alana King 2/11 (3), Megan Schutt 2/16 (3)

Australia Women won by 63 runs

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