Ireland opt to bat vs England
Laura Delany said Ireland were “itching to get out there” after choosing to bat first in their T20 World Cup opener against England at Boland Park in Paarl.
“It looks like a really good wicket,” Delany said, on a baking-hot afternoon in the South African sunshine. “Our preparation has gone quite well. Morale is definitely up. There’s a really good energy and buzz around the group.”
They picked the same XI that beat Australia, with three spinners hoping that the pitch will become increasingly dry as the afternoon wears on.
The squad followed the auction before the game, watching Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone pick up lucrative contracts. Several England players – including captain Heather Knight – were unsold in the first round of bidding, but could attract buyers during the game itself.
England: 1 Danni Wyatt, 2 Sophia Dunkley, 3 Alice Capsey, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 5 Heather Knight (capt), 6 Amy Jones (wk), 7 Katherine Sciver-Brunt, 8 Sophie Ecclestone, 9 Charlie Dean, 10 Sarah Glenn, 11 Lauren Bell
Ireland: 1 Amy Hunter, 2 Gaby Lewis, 3 Orla Prendergast, 4 Laura Delany (capt), 5 Eimear Richardson, 6 Louise Little, 7 Mary Waldron (wk), 8 Leah Paul, 9 Arlene Kelly, 10 Cara Murray, 11 Jane Maguire