Ireland women's cricket team

The Irish women's cricket team is the team that represents Ireland in international women's cricket matches. Unlike their male counterparts, they currently have both Test and ODI status. They represent both political entities on the island of Ireland - the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

History

1980s

The Irish women's team entered the international arena well before their male counterparts, playing their first ODIs in a three match series against Australia in 1987, a full 19 years before the men's team would make their ODI debut. They lost all three games by more than 100 runs, but were still invited to take part in the World Cup the following year in Australia.

In that World Cup, they finished fourth, losing to New Zealand in the third place play off game. Fourth place isn't as good as it might seem, as there were only five teams in the tournament, and Ireland's only two wins both came against The Netherlands. The next year, Ireland took part in the first Women's European Championship in Denmark, finishing fourth on run rate, with their only win coming against the hosts.

1990s

The first two years of the 1990s again saw Ireland compete in the European Championships, finishing as runners up to England in 1990, and third place in 1991. Sandwiched between those two tournaments was a 2 match ODI series against England, with England winning both games, the second by 10 wickets.

1993 saw them compete in the World Cup again, this time finishing in fifth place. The next European Championship in 1995 again saw them finish as runners up to England. Following this, they settled into a pattern of playing ODIs against which ever team was touring England, a pattern that continues to this day. The 1997 World Cup saw them lose to New Zealand in the quarter finals. The end of the 1990s saw them yet again finish as runners up to England in the European Championship in 1999.

2000s

2000 was a big year for the Irish women's team as they played their first ever test match, beating Pakistan by an innings inside two days in Dublin. This is still their only test match however. They also dominated the ODI series against Pakistan, winning 4-0 with a fifth game rained off. They still could only finish seventh in the World Cup later that year though, their only win coming against The Netherlands. The following year, they won the European Championship, and that remains the only time out of seven tournaments that the England team had not won the competition.

That seventh place meant that they had to take part in the first Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier, then known as the IWCC Trophy in 2003. They won every game in that tournament, which qualified them for the world cup in South Africa in 2005. They came last in that tournament, meaning they will have to qualify again for the 2009 World Cup. Later in the year, they yet again finished as runners up to England in the European Championship.

Their most recent activity was a two match ODI series against The Netherlands, winning both games. In November 2007, they will go to the Women's World Cup Qualifier in Lahore, where they will play Bermuda, The Netherlands, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, South Africa and an African qualifier.

Tournament History

=World Cup=

*1988: 4th place
*1993: 5th place
*1997: Quarter finals
*2000: 7th place
*2005: 8th place

=European Championship=

*1989: 4th place
*1990: Runners up
*1991: 3rd place
*1995: Runners up
*1999: Runners up
*2001: Winners
*2005: Runners up

Records

Test cricket

*Highest team total: 193/3 declared v Pakistan, 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
*Highest individual score: 68 not out, Caitriona Beggs v Pakistan, 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
*Best innings bowling: 6/21, Isobel Joyce v Pakistan, 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
*Best match bowling: 6/21, Isobel Joyce v Pakistan, 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland

ODI cricket

*Highest team total: 309/2 v Netherlands, 19 August 2005 at Miskin Manor Cricket Club, Wales
*Highest individual score: 120, Karen Young v Pakistan, 27 July 2000 at Sydney Parade,Dublin, Republic of Ireland
*Best innings bowling: 5/18, Ciara Metcalfe v Denmark, 17 August 2007 at Deventer, Netherlands

ee also

*Irish men's cricket team