ORLA PRENDERGAST starred with bat and ball at Clontarf yesterday as Ireland recorded a five-wicket victory to beat England for the second time in five days and draw the T20 international series 1-1.

After top-scoring with 52 as the Girls in Green were dismissed for 109 and lost Saturday’s first match by 67 runs, Prendergast powered to 80 from 51 balls before she was bowled with her side on the brink of their first T20i victory over England.

What seemed a certain win — seven needed to pass the visitors 169-8 from as many balls, with eight wickets in hand — turned into another final-over thriller as two more wickets fell before Christine Coulter-Reilly scrambled the winning two, thanks to an overthrow,.

“It was our last game of the summer and after playing some really good crocket we wanted to finish well,” Prendergast said, as she received both the Player of the Match and Series awards.. 

“Form is precious and I’m feeling really good at the moment. It’s a case of being consistent which is something I’ve struggled with a bit with in the past (to get a score and then come out and get another score the following day) so I’m happy to have done that this time.”

Ireland’s highest successful run chase in a T20i was built on two Prendergast partnerships: the first of 79 with skipper Gaby Lewis, who made 38 from 35 balls, and another of 82 for the third wicket with Leah Paul who was 27 not our when the win was sealed with a ball to spare.

Prendergast, who is bound for Australia this autumn, for a stint with the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash, also showcased her swing bowling skills with 2-31 from four overs.

Aimee Maguire was another to enhance her reputation over the weekend, the 18-year-old left-arm spinner taking 3-30 on Saturday, followed by 2-32, in the wake of her stunning career-best 5-19 in the ODI victory over England on Wednesday.