1 hour ago
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Key events
5th over: England 26-0 (Bouchier 21, Dunkley 3) A second boundary of the day for Bouchier, she turns it off her boot ends, fumbled on the rope by Little, and then a third played way out of her crease, through point with a flourish. And a fourth! Another flick round the corner. A costly over for Ireland.
4th over: England 14-0 (Bouchier 9, Dunkley 2) An immaculate maiden from Kelly, some yes-no running from England.
3rd over: England 14-0 (Bouchier 9, Dunkley 3) I’m deeply envious of the sunshine at Worcester, summer already feels as if it has slipped out of reach in Manchester. Prendergast throws down a couple of bouncers which Dunkley ducks and then takes on the body.
2nd over: England 10-0 (Bouchier 8, Dunkley 0) The retiring Kelly starts her final bowl for Ireland. Bouchier drives her gorgeously straight down the ground for four.
1st over: England 2-0 (Bouchier 1, Dunkley 0) Welsh Fire’s Prendergast with the first over which is, a wide apart, on the money. Dunkley is given out lbw to a ball nipping in as Dunkley jackknifes back. But she appeals immediately and the replay shows an inside edge.
Here we go!
Arlene Kelly retires
No Stokesian smoke signals, just a low-key announcement at the toss. Kelly, a New Zealander, came to Ireland to play for the Dragons, but qualified through her Irish passport to play for the national team and was picked by Ed Joyce who said overseas cricketers like Kelly would “raise the standard in the team.” She’s played 38 ODIs and 71 IT20s, with 135 international wickets and over 500 runs.
Ireland XI
Ireland XI: Gaby Lewis (capt), Alice Tector, Amy Hunter (wk), Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell, Leah Paul, Louise Little, Arlene Kelly, Cara Murray, Lara McBride, Kia McCartney.
Two changes - Arlene Kelly and Lara McBride replace Jane Maguire and Georgina Dempsey.
England XI
England XI: Sophia Dunkley, Maia Bouchier, Jodi Gewcock, Alice Capsey (wk), Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean (c), Mady Villiers, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Lauren Filer, Tilly Corteen-Coleman.
One change, Lauren Filer replaces Issy Wong, who grabbed five wickets in the last match. “I can’t imagine she’ll be too happy,” says Tash Farrant, “but I can see why they want to give Lauren Filer some rhythm.”
Ireland win the toss and will bowl
Gaby Lewis wins a toss at last, and says she fancies a bowl because there is a bit of grass in the wicket. She also says that this will be Arlene Kelly’s last international for Ireland.
Our woman on the ground (Raf) reports blazing sunshine at New Road: “Richard Starkie from Noughtie Child says he is regretting not bringing his sun hat. (Written press are outdoors so very grateful for the weather!)“
Weather watch
The Met Office are optimistic: A rather cloudy start with outbreaks of rain moving northeastwards. Turning dry and brighter towards lunchtime, with plenty of sunshine developing for the afternoon. Breezy but feeling very warm in the sunshine. Maximum temperature 26 °C
Preamble
Good morning! Here ends England’s international summer. It’s been a mixed bag, winning T20 series against India and New Zealand, a drawn ODI series against NZ, before reaching but not crossing the line in the two big ones – losing the World Cup final to Australia and the first women’s Test at Lord’s to India. They’ve wrapped up this ODI series against Ireland already, with props to Maia Bouchier and Issy Wong, Today they hope to make it a whitewash – assuming the weather at New Road is better than the teeming rain outside my window. Play should start at 10.30am, do join us!
