Joyce and top order hit form as Ireland get back on right track

CRICKET/Women's World Cup qualifier: Some big hitting from Ireland's top-order helped them get their quest for a World Cup spot back on track yesterday as they hammered Scotland by nine wickets in Stellenbosch.

Isobel Joyce put in a fine individual performance, taking three wickets as Ireland restricted the Scots to 142, before hitting a whirlwind 45 off 33 deliveries to help her side get home with 169 balls to spare.

It could have been so much easier for Ireland, as their bowling attack coughed up a startling 54 wides.

It meant nine extra overs for Scotland and is something that will have to be significantly reduced if they are to make the final of this competition and earn a place in next year's World Cup in Australia.

Scottish skipper Kari Anderson won the toss and elected to bat. Isobel Joyce removed Catherine Smail for a duck in the ninth over, Ciara Metcalfe taking a fine catch at slip.

When Jill Whelan trapped Kathryn White leg-before with her second ball in the next over the Scots were in trouble at 11 for two. Anderson's measured 41 added to the ever-mounting extras column was the only reason Scotland made it into three figures.

Jill Whelan ended Anderson's 121-ball vigil with the first delivery of her second spell to finish with figures of two for 31. Her older sister Heather bowled a tidy spell of two for nine from her 10, with Joyce's three for 21 being the pick of the attack.

Clare Shillington was promoted to opener and she signalled her intent from the start, hitting the second ball of the innings for four.

The Malahide player eventually fell for 29 but Ireland already had 63 on the board at that stage. Joyce joined Caitriona Beggs at the wicket and the pair took just over 10 overs to knock off the 80 runs for victory, Beggs finishing unbeaten on 44.

"It was good to win today as were very disappointed to lose yesterday," admitted player of the match Joyce.

"I think it will be important to play well against Zimbabwe. We need to keep things tight in the field and cut out the extras."

Ireland enjoy a day off today before a make or break final Pool B clash against Zimbabwe tomorrow.

Scotland

K White lbw b J Whelan 4

C Smaill c Metcalfe b I Joyce 0

K Anderson c I Joyce b J Whelan 41

F Urquhart st Carroll b Metcalfe 2

C Bascombe c C Joyce b I Joyce 12

C Sweetman b I Joyce 1

D Pedgrift b H Whelan 0

A Aitken b H Whelan 12

S Aslam not out 10

LM Kasperek not out 0

Extras (lb 4 w 54 nb 2) 60

Total (for 8 wkts, 50 ovs) 142

DNB: C Farr

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-11, 3-23, 4-98, 5-111, 6-112, 7-112, 8-141.

Bowling: H Whelan 9-1-19-2; I Joyce 10-3-21-3; J Whelan 9-0-31-2; C Metcalfe 10-1-26-1; M Scott-Hayward; 5-1-16-0; N Coffey 2-0-13-0; E Richardson 5-0-12-0.

Ireland

C Shillington lbw b Anderson 29

C Beggs not out 44

I Joyce not out 45

Extras (lb 2 w 23) 25

Total (for 1 wkt, 21.5 ovs) 143

DNB: C Joyce, N Coffey, J Whelan, H Whelan, C Metcalfe, E Nolan, J Carroll, M Scott-Hayward

Fall of wickets:1-63 Bowling: C Farr 5-0-26-0; A Aitken 3-0-16-0; S Aslam 2-0-23-0; K White 4-0-24-0; K Anderson 5.5-0-34-1; F Urquhart.

Ireland won by 9 wkts.

Player of the match: Isobel Joyce.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times