Ireland earned its first win at a T20 World Cup by defeating West Indies by six wickets in Bristol on June 27, 2026. This match was part of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group 1, marking a historic moment for the Irish team.
West Indies batted first, scoring 128 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Chinelle Henry was the standout performer for the West Indies, remaining not out with 27 runs off 21 balls.
However, the team struggled to build momentum, with key players Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor, and Deandra Dottin all scoring below a strike-rate of 100. This left the lower order with a challenging task to boost the total.
On the bowling front, Cara Murray was exceptional for Ireland, taking 2 wickets for just 13 runs, including the crucial wicket of Matthews, who managed 22 runs. Ireland's disciplined bowling performance effectively restricted the West Indies, who were considered semi-final hopefuls.
In response, Ireland chased down the target with relative ease, scoring 129 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 18.1 overs. Orla Prendergast led the innings with a remarkable 63 runs from 44 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes.
Her dismissal in the 16th over left Ireland needing 21 runs from 28 balls, but Rebecca Stokell held her nerve, contributing an unbeaten 16 runs to help secure the victory with 11 balls to spare.
This win is particularly significant for Ireland, as they had lost all 21 of their previous matches in five editions of the tournament. Despite the defeat, West Indies still have a chance to advance based on their net run-rate, contingent on the outcome of the New Zealand vs. England match.
However, Ireland's victory does not qualify them for the top four in the group, meaning they will need to compete in the qualifying rounds for the 2028 tournament.
