Tag: Ireland

GQEBERHA: Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus hit sparkling centuries to power South Africa women to a series victory over Ireland women here at the St George’s Park, Gqeberha on Tuesday.

Chasing a daunting 376, Ireland were bowled out for 301 in 47.5 overs.

Ireland started poorly in the chase as opener Sarah Forbes went without scoring. As a result, skipper Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter added 77 for the second wicket to put the chase back on track.

Lewis scored 45 off 52 with the help of eight fours. Following her wicket, Orla Prendergast and Amy Hunter kept Ireland in the hunt with a 93-run partnership.

The duo’s batting brought the scoring to 170 in 29.3 before Hunter’s removal dented the chase. Hunter managed to score 64 from 66 balls.

With the asking rate rising, it was already an uphill task for Irish batters despite Prendergast remaining battling out till the 40th over.

She was eventually dismissed for a well-made 97 from 86 balls, laced with 10 fours and two sixes.

For South Africa, Leah Jones remained the standout bowler, taking three wickets while Nondumiso Shangase and Miane Smit scalped two apiece.

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Earlier, after opting to bat first, South Africa were 59-2 after the first 10 overs before a mammoth 179-run stand between Wolvaardt and Luss brought the score to 238 in 36.5 overs.

The partnership was eventually broken with Wolvaardt’s wicket, who made 124 from 119 balls laced with 19 fours.

Meanwhile, Luss forged another 117 with Dane van Niekerk, which propelled the score over the 350-run mark.

Sune Luss made 114 from 113, striking 13 fours and a six, while Niekerk unleashed a boundary barrage with a quick-fire 88 off just 47 balls. She hit 13 fours and three sixes in her power-packed knock.

For Ireland, Jane Maguire managed to scalp three wickets.

The third ODI will be played on 19 December in Johannesburg.

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BENONI: South Africa women clinched the three-match T20I series against Ireland women 2-0 after the final fixture was completely washed out here at the Willowmoore Park Stadium on Wednesday.

The game was abandoned without a toss due to weather conditions.

As a result, the Proteas clinched the series 2-0 after showcasing dominant performance in the opening two matches.

South Africa started the series opener with a 105-run victory in Cape Town.

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt starred with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 115 from 56 balls, studded with four sixes and 15 boundaries. As a result, South Africa put on a daunting 220 run total on the board.

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In reply, Ireland’s batting lineup faltered under pressure and were skittled for 118 in 18 overs.

The Proteas dominated in the second T20I as well, with the runs on the board after deciding to bat first. They racked up 201-5 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to Dane van Niekerk’s late flourish, who scored a brisk 41 from only 19 balls.

On the contrary, Ireland could only manage to score 136-3 in their allotted 20 overs.

For South Africa, Chloe Tryon remained the standout bowler, who picked up two wickets in her quota of four overs.

The three-match ODI series between South Africa and Ireland will begin on 13 December in East London.

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PAARL: Faye Tunnicliffe starred with a half-century as South Africa women outplayed Ireland women in the second T20I to clinch the series 2-0 here at the Boland Park on Sunday.

Set a daunting 202, Ireland could only muster 136-3 in their allotted 20 overs.

Orla Prendergast remained the top scorer with 51* from 43, striking four boundaries and a six, whereas Leah Paul remained the other notable contributor with 41 off 29 with the aid of six boundaries.

With an uphill task to climb, Ireland’s openers started sluggishly, adding 34 in 6.3 overs before their skipper Gaby Lewis fell after making 19 from 22 balls.

The second wicket fell in the same over as wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter was cleaned up by Chloe Tryon, which reduced them to 35-2.

After two wickets in quick succession, Paul and Prendergast stitched a 76-run partnership, bringing the score to 111 in 16.2 overs. The partnership was broken with the former’s dismissal.

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With a surmountable run-rate, Ireland had already lost the match and ended their innings on 136 runs in 20 overs.

For South Africa, Chloe Tryon remained the standout bowler, who picked up two wickets in her quota of four overs.

Earlier, after winning the toss, South Africa racked up 201-5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Sune Luus and Faye Tunnicliffe forged a 78-run partnership for the opening wicket in 9.2 overs. Luss hit six boundaries in her 37 from 24 balls.

South Africa kept on scoring at a brisk rate despite losing wickets at regular intervals.

Faye Tunnicliffe fell in the 13th over, lbw by Aimee Maguire after making 51 from 42, studded with seven fours.

However, it was returning Dane van Niekerk that provided South Africa’s innings with a late flourish with a brisk 41 from only 19, featuring three sixes and three fours.

For Ireland, Aimee Maguire starred with the ball and picked up three wickets.

The third T20I of the series will be played on 10 December in Benoni.

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CAPE TOWN: Laura Wolvaardt’s sublime century powered South Africa women to a big win over Ireland women here at Newlands Cricket Ground on Friday.

Set a daunting 221, Ireland’s batting lineup faltered under pressure and were skittled for 118 in 18 overs.

The Proteas women inflicted a miserable start on the visitors, reducing them to 4-2 at the end of the first over. Sune Luus picked up both of the opening wickets.

After early hiccups, skipper Gaby Lewis and Leah Paul tried to put chase back on track, adding 42 for the second wicket.

Lewis made 30 from 30 with the help of five boundaries, whereas Paul continued until the first ball of the 11th over.

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Paul scored 34 from 23 balls, striking six fours.

The wicket sparked a collapse Ireland could not recover from, and they ended up losing the match by a big margin of 105 runs.

For South Africa, Sune Luus picked up a four-wicket haul in her quota of four overs.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, South Africa piled up a mammoth 220-2 in their allotted 20 overs.

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt starred with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 115 from 56 balls, studded with four sixes and 15 boundaries.

Sune Luus remained the other notable contributor with 81 off 51 balls, which included 11 fours and a six.

For Ireland, Ava Canning and Jane Maguire picked up one wicket each.

The second T20I of the three-match series will be played on Sunday, 7 December at Paarl.

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DHAKA: Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam etchede his name into record books as he surpassed Shakib Al Hasan to become Bangladesh leading wicket-taker in Test cricket.

Taijul, 33, increased his tally to 248 wickets, surpassing Shakib’s record of 246 wickets in the longest format of the game.

He achieved the milestone during the second Test against Ireland in the sixth over of their second innings at the Shere Bangla National Stadium here on Saturday.

Most Wickes for Bangladesh in Test Cricket

Taijul Islam 249* wickets in 58 matches
Shakib Al Hasan 246 wickets in 71 matches
Mehidy Hasan Miraz 209* wickets in 56 matches

The 33-year-old stood at 246 wickets before heading into the second Test of the series. With Ireland requiring a daunting 509 to chase, Taijul chipped in the ball and trapped opener Andy Balbirnie to record a historic feat.

Notably, right-arm off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz is third on the list with 209 wickets to his name in 56 matches.

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At stumps on day four, Taijul Islam put Bangladesh into a commanding position to win the series 2-0. The visitors are 176-6 with 333 runs more required to win the game.

The spinner had so far picked three wickets in his 20 overs.

Bangladesh remained dominant throughout the match after opting to bat first and racked up 476 runs in their first innings, courtesy of fine centuries from Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das.

In reply, Ireland were bowled out for only 265 in their first innings, followed by another abysmal show with the bat in their second innings.

For the unversed, Taijul has spearheaded Bangladesh’s spin attack in Test matches in the past couple of years and has scalped 17 five-wicket hauls alongside two ten-fers in 58 games.

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Four-time World Cup winners Italy will face Northern Ireland in the semi-finals of the European playoffs for the FIFA World Cup 2026, while Ukraine will face star-studded Sweden.

Italy will take on Northern Ireland on March 26 next year at an Italian venue that is yet to be confirmed, after to the draw made in Zurich on Thursday.

Five days later the winner will travel to face the winner of Wales’s semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Despite another error-strewn qualification campaign, Italy still have a chance of reaching the World Cup finals for the first time since the 2014 tournament in Brazil, having failed to qualify in 2018 and 2022.

Facing the Azzurri will be a daunting challenge for Northern Ireland, who have only beaten the Italians once in 11 meetings, and that was in 1958.

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso said: “Let’s concentrate on the first match. Northen Ireland are a team that we can beat.

“They’re a team that have their own style, they’re very physical… they’ll give us a good game but we can do it.

“We know about Wales and Bosnia, and playing in Cardiff is difficult for anybody, but for now let’s concentrate on the semi-final.”

War-torn Ukraine will play a Sweden team that could feature Liverpool’s £125 million ($164 million) forward Alexander Isak and Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swedes, though, were woeful in qualifying, finishing bottom of their group, and only got into the playoffs thanks to their performance in the Nations League.

Newly appointed English coach Graham Potter, formerly in charge of Brighton and Chelsea, faces a tough task to steer the Swedes to the finals in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

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Potter said Sweden had a “fantastic opportunity”.

“We need to make sure we’re in a good place in March. We need to use our time until then wisely,” he said.

Whoever triumphs in the Ukraine v Sweden match will face the winner of Poland’s meeting with Albania — the Albanians are bidding to reach football’s showpiece for the first time.

Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland, who reached the playoffs after a dramatic late goal from Troy Parrott earned a 3-2 win in Hungary on Sunday, face a tough trip to the Czech Republic.

The winner of that match will host the winner of the semi-final between Denmark and North Macedonia.

Turkey will play Romania, who were surprise quarter-finalists the last time the tournament was played in the United States in 1994.

The winner will face either Slovakia or Kosovo, who are also trying to reach a World Cup for the first time in their history.

All the European semi-finals will take place on March 26, with the finals on March 31.

In the inter-continental playoffs, New Caledonia — another nation bidding to make a first appearance at a World Cup finals — will play against Jamaica for the right to face the seeded Democratic Republic of Congo.

Bolivia will play Suriname — yet another country seeking a first ever appearance — with the victor going on to a winner-takes-all game against Iraq.

Those games will be played in March next year.

The expansion of the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams from 32 teams in 2022 has led to a clutch of first-time qualifiers, including Curacao and Uzbekistan.

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SYLHET: Mahmudul Hasan Joy played a 171-run knock to help Bangladesh register a dominant innings-and-47-run victory over Ireland on the fourth day of the first Test on Friday.

Debutant left-arm spinner Hasan Murad starred with 4-60, while Taijul Islam finished with 3-84, including the final wicket of Barry McCarthy, as Ireland were dismissed for 254 in their second innings.

Bangladesh had taken firm control of the game with a massive first-innings total of 587-8 declared in reply to Ireland’s 286.

Ireland tried to unsettle the spinners after they resumed on Friday morning with an aggressive sweep-heavy approach.

Andy McBrine resisted with a gritty 52 off 106 balls, his fifth Test half-century, but received little support until a late counterattack from McCarthy (25) and debutant Jordan Neil (36).

McCarthy and Neil added 54 runs for the ninth wicket to delay Bangladesh’s victory charge.

Murad, who took two wickets late on day three, returned to trap Irish captain Andy Balbirnie (38) with a full delivery.

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Balbirnie, who did not bat on the third evening due to a finger injury, came in at number eight.

The star for Bangladesh in the match was opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who slammed a career-best 171.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto made 100, his eighth Test century and fourth as captain, equalling Mushfiqur Rahim’s tally as Bangladesh skipper.

Shadman Islam (80), Mominul Haque (80) and Liton Das (60) also contributed with the bat, while Humphreys finished with 5-170 — his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests.

The teams now move to Mirpur for the second and final Test, starting November 19 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

That match will mark Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th Test appearance, the first Bangladesh player to reach the milestone.

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DUBAI: Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana has been fined by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching the Code of Conduct during the second day of the first Test against Ireland at Sylhet.

Rana violated Article 2.9 of the cricket governing body’s Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, the governing body stated.

The article relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment) at or near a player in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during an International Match.”

The ICC stated that Level 1 offences carry a minimum sanction of an official reprimand and can lead to a fine of up to 50 percent of the player’s match fee.

“Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points,” it said in a statement.

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Consequently, Nahid Rana has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee and handed one demerit point, marking the 23-year-old’s first offense in 24 months.

The incident happened in the 27th over of Ireland’s innings when Rana, in his follow-through, threw the ball back towards Cade Carmichael, which hit him on the pads. The batter, however, did not move off the popping crease.

Rana admitted the offence and accepted the charge proposed by ICC match referee Andy Pycroft of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Sam Nogajski and Ahsan Raza, alongside third umpire Richard Illingworth and fourth umpire Tanvir Ahmed.

Nonetheless, Mahmudul Hasan Joy’s highest Test score of 169* demonstrated a commanding performance from Bangladesh on day two against Ireland.

The Tigers ended their day on a high with 338-1, leading by 52 runs after bowling out Ireland for 286 in the opening hours of the day’s play.

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DHAKA: Bangladesh stalwart Mushfiqur Rahim is set to etch his name into the history books as he approaches a remarkable milestone— becoming the first player from his nation to play 100 Test matches.

Mushfiqur is expected to reach the landmark in the second Test against Ireland, scheduled to begin on November 19 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka. The first Test of the two-match series will be held in Sylhet from November 11.

This comes after Cricket Ireland agreed to play two Tests. Earlier, Ireland had preferred to play a One-Day International (ODI) series instead of a second Test.

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Currently on 98 Tests, Mushfiqur Rahim made his debut as an 18-year-old in 2005 at Lord’s – the home of cricket.

The wicket-keeper batter holds several records for Bangladesh, including the most runs in Tests (6328) and the highest individual score (219) against Zimbabwe.

Overall, the batter has represented Bangladesh in 98 Tests, 274 ODIs, and 102 T20Is.

The Ireland series will also mark the start of an action-packed home season for the Tigers.

Following the conclusion of the Ireland tour, the West Indies will tour Bangladesh for six-white ball matches in October. The series will begin with ODIs on October 18, 20, and 23 and conclude with a T20I series on October 27, 30, and November 1.

Bangladesh’s 2025–26 home season will also feature a full series against Pakistan, comprising two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is in March–April.

Later on, New Zealand will also tour Bangladesh as per the Future Tour Programme (FTP).

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Jacob Bethell is set to become the youngest England men’s captain as the Three Lions announces squads for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa and Ireland, set to commence in September 2025.

England will contest three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against South Africa. The ODI series begins on Tuesday, 2 September at Headingley.

The three-match T20I series against Ireland will be held at Malahide in Dublin, with the opening game scheduled for Wednesday, September 17.

Jacob Bethell is set to become the youngest England captain after being named as deputy for Harry Brook in the Ireland series.

The 21-year-old will surpass the record held by Monty Bowdow, who was 23 and 144 days when he led England.

Among the notable inclusions is off-pacer Sonny Baker, who has won his maiden call-up to the national side for the ODI series against South Africa.

Meanwhile, Rehan Ahmed is set to return to the ODI fold after having a prolific summer with the bat for his county team.

Following the squad announcement, England men’s selector, Luke Wright, shared his views on Jacob Bethell’s appointment.

“Jacob Bethell has impressed with his leadership qualities ever since he has been with the England squads, and the series against Ireland will provide him with the opportunity to further develop those skills on the international stage,” he said.

Wright further commented on Baker’s inclusion and his impressive tour with England Lions.

“Sonny is a player we have identified for a while and he was impressive during the England Lions tours last winter. He has carried that form into this season in white-ball cricket with Hampshire and Manchester Originals and deservedly gets his opportunity,” he remarked.

England ODI squad to face South Africa

Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith

England T20I squad to face South Africa

Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood

England T20I squad for Ireland Series

Jacob Bethell (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood

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