THE wife of Ireland head coach Ed Joyce is a Hollywood screenwriter, but even Fran could not have written the script for the extraordinary win over England at Clontarf.

With two runs needed off four balls, Ireland lost two wickets before local hero Tina Coulter-Reilly walked out to one of the biggest cheers of the day. She hit the ball barely ten yards and ran, but with the stumps at her mercy, bowler Mady Villiers missed, and her shy was so wayward that it evaded the backing-up fielder too.

The result was two runs for Ireland and a famous victory with one ball to spare for the side led by stand-in captain Gaby Lewis, earning a share of the Certa International Series trophy.

It was the first time Ireland had won in 15 internationals at the north Dublin club.

Ireland fully deserved the five-wicket win win, showing great improvement in all departments after Saturday’s 67 run defeat. England’s batters didn’t find it as easy, making 71-2 off their first ten overs, in contrast to 96-1 the day before.

Tammy Beaumont led the way with 40, but England scored steadily to total 169-8, with two wickets apiece for Aimee Maguire, Orla Prendergast and Arlene Kelly.

Maguire won’t forget the week of her 18th birthday in a hurry. The Skerries youngster took ten wickets in the five games, more than anyone else, and recorded a career best in both formats, with 5-19 in the ODI and 3-30 on Saturday.

The England batters opted to come down the pitch to her, and she struggled with her length but still claimed the wickets of Smale and Schofield to excellent catches by Ava Canning.

Ireland again got off to a bad start, losing Amy Hunter in the first over, but Prendergast and Lewis were determined to keep playing positively. They feasted on some wayward England bowling and clocked up a stand of 79 runs that put Ireland ahead at half-way.

Lewis went for 38 but Prendergast went to her sixth T20 fifty off 39 balls.

The Pembroke all-rounder is off to Adelaide Strikers for the Big Bash, and showed again yesterday why many believe she could be a mega-star. She treated some of England’s biggest stars with disdain and added another fifty partnership with Leah Paul.

With four overs left Ireland needed 42, but the pair smashed 17 off Charis Pavely and Ireland had their noses in front.

Fifteen was needed off nine balls when Prendergast hit consecutive fours, bringing up her career best score of 80. But England captain Kate Cross bowled her to leave Ireland needing seven off the last over.

Sarah Forbes hit a welcome four to ease the pressure, before the dramatic finale.