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England beat Ireland to secure second win in Women's T20 World Cup 2026

Ireland will face New Zealand in Southampton on June 19 while England take on Scotland in Leeds on June 20

By Web Desk

June 17, 2026

England's Sophie Ecclestone (second from left) celebrates after taking a wicket with teammates during their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against Ireland at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on June 16, 2026. - ICC

SOUTHAMPTON: England defeated Ireland by four wickets in a low-scoring encounter to register their second win in Group B of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday.

Chasing 119, England reached the target in 17.3 overs with six wickets down, recovering from a brief mid-innings wobble through a composed partnership led by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight.

Sciver-Brunt played a match-winning knock of 48 from 37 deliveries, striking four boundaries, before being retired out as England closed in on victory with just nine runs required.

Knight added a steady 26 off 23 balls, including two fours, while Danni Wyatt-Hodge contributed a fluent 16 off 16 deliveries with three boundaries.

Ireland’s bowlers fought hard to stay in the contest, with Aimee Maguire and Orla Prendergast taking two wickets apiece, but their efforts were ultimately in vain.

Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Ireland were restricted to 118-9 in their 20 overs, thanks to a disciplined England bowling performance led by Sophie Ecclestone.

Prendergast and Louise Little were the top scorers for Ireland. Prendergast made 26 off 18 balls, hitting four boundaries, while Little remained unbeaten on 26 from 15 deliveries, including five fours.

Alana Dalzell added 14 off 18 balls, and both Alice Tector and Leah Paul contributed 10 runs each, but Ireland struggled for momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Opener Amy Hunter scored six off five balls before captain Gaby Lewis was dismissed for a first-ball duck. Rebecca Stokell made nine off 14 deliveries, while Arlene Kelly and Cara Murray were dismissed for seven and one respectively.

Ecclestone led the England attack with figures of 3-22 from her four overs. Charlie Dean and Dani Gibson claimed two wickets each, while Linsey Smith and Lauren Bell took one wicket apiece.

For the unversed, Ireland will next face New Zealand at the same venue on June 19, while England take on Scotland in Leeds on June 20.