5th Match: Ireland Women v New Zealand Women at Lincoln, 1 Dec 2000 CricInfo Live Report

5th Match: Ireland Women v New Zealand Women at Lincoln, 1 Dec 2000
Chris Rosie

Ireland Women innings: 15 overs, 30 overs, End of innings,
New Zealand Women innings: 15 overs,
Pre-game: Toss,

NZ IN COMMAND

Paula Flannery and Rebecca Rolls opened the New Zealand chase for 100, Rolls getting off the mark with a classic drive past extra cover for four off the left-arm medium pacer Isobel Joyce, operating from the pavilion end. Flannery picked up a brace of threes, one off Joyce and the other off her opening partner, Barbara McDonald, as New Zealand began at a merry pace, 31 runs coming off the first five overs.

Along with classic straight drives, the first five overs were notable for the aggressive running of the New Zealanders, 12 runs coming in threes.

A steady flow of runs forced the first change in the nineth over, Catherine O'Neill replacing McDonald with her off spin. However, in a replay of the first Irish wicket,it was the field that broke through. The New Zealand batswomen ended up occupying the same crease as a run out was easily completed at the bowler's end. Rolls was the victim, gong for 19 with the score on 39.

Anna O'Leary joined Flannery while Miriam Grealey introduced her own off spin at the city end. It was an expensive contribution, 11 coming from her first over as New Zealand went to 50 off 60 balls.

The New Zealanders continued at over four an over, both showing shots around the wicket. The Irish bowlers tried to reduce the driving by dropping short. But that only encouraged silky cuts and belligerent pulls from the New Zealand pair, taking the score to 64 off 15 overs.

IRELAND LEAVE NZ 100 TO WIN

With the score 44 for five at the end of the 30th over, the sense of necessary urgency again cost the Irish. They managed to take the score past 50 in the 33rd, courtesy of a sweet four through mid-wicket from Shillington. But the very next ball from Campbell brought a towering hit from Shillington that was well caught by Nicholson, brought in to cover the mid-wicket region. Shillington gone for 6 with the score at 51 for six

The wicket gave Campbell the world record, her 74 wickets coming from 78 one-day internationals.

Nikki Squire joined the gallant Beggs, who was combining judicious defence with occasional blows in anger. Pullar replaced Campbell, with the captain for the day switching to the pavilion end and the advantage of bowling her off spin into the light breeze.

Pullar was extracting pace and bounce, clipping Squire on the head with what the umpire ruled was a no ball as the batswoman turned away from a rising ball. It had no effect - if anything it enlivened proceedings, Squire playing sweetly through the covers and the over giving up five to the Irish cause. A further five off the next over, the 40th, including a four through mid-wicket to Beggs, marked a sharp advance in the scoring to 72.

Squire, however, was in the wars. Backing up at the bowler's end, she took another blow to the head, this time through a sharp return from the field. She continued on as McDonald resumed from the pavilion end.

A couple of wides in McDonald's first over were a symptom of the one area that New Zealand would have been concerned about in the field, the occasional wayward delivery.

In a double change, Tiffen resumed from the city end. But the Irish pair, with eight overs available, were stepping up the pace, mixing quick running between wickets with the occasional bold shot. With five overs to go, they had shared a partnership of 33 and taken the score through to 84.

Nicholson returned at the pavilion end, replacing McDonald whose six overs had cost 15 runs. But the Irish pair continued to frustrate the New Zealanders, producing some untidy ground fielding as they applied pressure on the field.

However, it was the field that finally broke the partnership. One quick run too many saw Squire, on 18, caught short by a direct hit at the bowler's end from Tiffen at mid off. Ireland 94 for seven in the 48th over and the partnership worth 43.

Saibh Young joined Beggs and was immediately involved in a running mix-up with her senior partner, Beggs responding too late to a quick call and going for a gallant 31. Ireland 97 for seven.

Isobel Joyce did not last long. She was judged lbw to Nicholson in the last over. Ireland 99 for nine. And the innings came to an immediate end with the new batswoman, Barbara McDonald, involved in yet another run out with no addition to the score. Ireland were all out for 99 with two balls left.

Campbell and Tiffen, two for 17 and two for 14 respectively, were the best of the bowlers although 16 wides contributed to the Irish score.

New Zealand should have little difficulty getting the 100 to win but they will look back on the Beggs-Squire partnership with some concern.

IRELAND CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE

With Ireland 20 for two, New Zealand switched from the off spin of Nicholson to the orthodox left arm spin of Erin McDonald. However, it was Tiffen at the city end who brought the next break-through, inducing Grearley to lift a gentle catch to Rachel Pullar at mid off. Grearley gone for 9 just when she looked in control and Ireland 23 for three.

The next batswoman, Clare O'Leary, had a very short stay. She came down the pitch to a wide leg side ball from McDonald in the next over, missed and Rolls completed the stumping. Ireland 26 for four.

The other New Zealander in the Irish team, Catherine O'Neill, joined Beggs for the rebuilding effort. Tight bowling from McDonald and Tiffen meant runs were at a premium despite a positive approach from the Irish pair.

McDonald made way for the medium pace of Kathryn Ramel in the 24th over and Tiffen for Catherine Campbell's off spin in the 25th. The screws remained tight, 31 runs accumulated at the half way stage of the innings. New Zealand would not have been happy that, despite the generally accurate performance, wides had contributed 11 to the total.

Slowly picking up the scoring rate, the Irish pair were looking comfortable enough. However, the need to increase the rate markedly brought about O'Neill's demise, gone for 4 trying to hit Campbell over the top and only getting as far as Pullar at mid off. Ireland 40 for five in the 29th over.

Claire Shillington joined Beggs and they took the score through to 44 for 5.

SLOW START FOR IRELAND

Karen Young, herself a New Zealander, and Anne Linehan began the Ireland run chase against a mixed New Zealand attack of Rachel Pullar's medium pace and Clare Nicholson's off spin.

The Irish pair had a good look at the bowling, frequently beaten at both ends and scoring just five runs by the seventh over but at least retaining their wickets. In fact it was confusion between the batswomen that brought about the first wicket. Lineham cut square to Anna O'Leary, Young took off for the run and the two batswomen were left conversing together while O'Leary's return was doing the damage at the bowler's end. Young gone for 2 with the score 5 for one.

The captain Miriam Grearley joined Linehan and the pair looked in little discomfort against the New Zealand attack, starting to pick up the run rate. They saw off Pullar, her six overs costing just eight runs. She was replaced by the right-arm medium pace of Haidee Tiffen from the city end in the 13th over. A couple of drives and innovative paddles to leg suggested Grearley was getting a feel for the conditions.

However, the change had an effect. In her second over, Tiffen induced Linehan to try to guide the ball fine only to be well caught by Rebecca Rolls behind the stumps. Linehan gone for 4 with the score 20 for two.

Caitriona Beggs joined Grearley and immediately took a nasty blow from Tiffen. She recovered to see out the end of the 15th over with the score at 20 for two.

IRELAND CHOOSE TO BAT

Ireland won the toss in their CricInfo Women's World Cup match against New Zealand and decided to bat on a beautiful Canterbury day at Lincoln's BIL Oval.

The pitch is the same used for the opening match of the tournament in which Australia had a comprehensive victory over New Zealand. Ireland can, therefore, expect to face a backlash from the home side.

The Irish team are Miriam Grearley, Caitriona Beggs, Isobel Joyce, Anne Linehan, Barbara McDonald, Clare O'Leary, Catherine O'Neill, Clare Shillington, Nikki Squire, Karen Young and Saibh Young with Ciara Young 12th man.

New Zealand selected Paula Flannery, Rebecca Rolls, Anna O'Leary, Debbie Hockley, Haidee Tiffen, Kathryn Ramel, Helen Watson, Rachel Pullar, Clare Nicholson, Catherine Campbell and Erin McDonald with Nikki Payne 12th.