Ireland women's cricket team

For the men's team, see Ireland national cricket team.

The Ireland women's cricket team represents Ireland in international women's cricket. Cricket in Ireland is governed by Cricket Ireland and organised on an All-Ireland basis, meaning the Irish women's team represents both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Ireland

Association	Cricket Ireland
Personnel
Captain	Gaby Lewis
Coach	Ed Joyce
International Cricket Council
ICC status	Full member (2017; 8 years ago (2017)) Associate member (1993; 32 years ago (1993))
ICC region	Europe
ICC Rankings Current[1] Best-ever ODI 11th 8th T20I 10th 10th (02_Jul-2020)
Tests
Only Test	v  Pakistan at College Park, Dublin; 30–31 July 2000
Tests Played Won/Lost Total[2] 1 1/0 (0 draws)
One Day Internationals
First ODI	v  Australia at Ormeau Cricket Ground, Belfast; 28 June 1987
Last ODI	v  Scotland at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; 18 April 2025
ODIs Played Won/Lost Total[3] 190 54/128 (1 tie, 7 no results) This year[4] 8 2/6 (0 ties, 0 no results)
World Cup appearances	5 (first in 1988)
Best result	4th (1988)
Women's World Cup Qualifier appearances	4 (first in 2003)
Best result	Champions (2003)
T20 Internationals
First T20I	v  West Indies at Kenure, Dublin; 27 June 2008
Last T20I	v  Bangladesh at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet; 9 December 2024
T20Is Played Won/Lost Total[5] 128 55/72 (0 ties, 1 no result) This year[6] 0 0/0 (0 ties, 0 no results)
T20 World Cup appearances	4 (first in 2014)
Best result	1st round (2014, 2016, 2018, 2023)
T20 World Cup Qualifier appearances	4 (first in 2013)
Best result	Champions (2015)
As of 18 April 2025

Ireland made its One-Day International (ODI) debut in 1987, against Australia, and the following year played at the 1988 World Cup, making the first of five appearances at the tournament. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Ireland was considered to be a top-level team, playing regular ODI series and placing as high as fifth at the World Cup (in 1993, out of eight teams). In 2000, the team played its only Test match, defeating the Pakistan women's team. Although it still retains ODI status, Ireland has not qualified for a World Cup since the 2005 event. The team has, however, qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 on two occasions, in 2014 and 2016. In December 2018, Cricket Ireland offered professional contracts to the women players for the first time.^[7]

In April 2021, the ICC awarded permanent Test and One Day International (ODI) status to all full member women's teams.^[8]

History

1980s

The Irish women's team entered the international arena well before their male counterparts, playing their first ODIs in a three match series against Australia in 1987, a full 19 years before the men's team would make their ODI debut.^[9] They lost all three games by more than 100 runs, but were still invited to take part in the World Cup the following year in Australia.

In that World Cup, they finished fourth, losing to New Zealand in the third place play-off game. Ireland subsequently came fourth of five in the tournament, with Ireland's only two wins both came against The Netherlands. The next year, Ireland took part in the first Women's European Championship in Denmark, finishing fourth on run rate, with their only win coming against the hosts.

1990s

The first two years of the 1990s again saw Ireland compete in the European Championships, finishing as runners up to England in 1990, and third place in 1991. Sandwiched between those two tournaments was a 2 match ODI series against England, with England winning both games, the second by 10 wickets.

1993 saw them compete in the World Cup again, this time finishing in fifth place. The next European Championship in 1995 again saw them finish as runners up to England. Following this, they settled into a pattern of playing ODIs against whichever team was touring England, a pattern that continues to this day. The 1997 World Cup saw them lose to New Zealand in the quarter-finals. The end of the 1990s saw them again finish as runners up to England in the European Championship in 1999.

2000s

Ireland played their first ever Test match in 2000, beating Pakistan by an innings inside two days in Dublin.^[10] This is still their only Test match however. They also dominated the ODI series against Pakistan, winning 4–0 with a fifth game rained off. They still could only finish seventh in the World Cup later that year though, their only win coming against The Netherlands. The following year, they won the European Championship, and that remains the only time out of seven tournaments that the England team had not won the competition.

That seventh place meant that they had to take part in the 2003 IWCC Trophy, the inaugural edition of what is now known simply as the World Cup Qualifier. They won every game in that tournament, which qualified them for the world cup in South Africa in 2005. They came last in that tournament, meaning they will have to qualify again for the 2009 World Cup. Later in the year, they yet again finished as runners up to England in the European Championship.

They played a two match ODI series against the Netherlands, winning both games. In November 2007, they went to the Women's World Cup Qualifier in Lahore, where they played Bermuda, The Netherlands, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, South Africa and an African qualifier.

In 2009, Ireland beat the Netherlands to win the European Championship.^[11]

In April 2016, Laura Delany was named as captain of Ireland women's cricket team replacing Isobel Joyce who stepped down after the 2016 ICC Women's World Twenty20 in India.^[12][13][14]

In December 2020, the ICC announced the qualification pathway for the 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.^[15] Ireland were named in the 2021 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier regional group, alongside five other teams.^[16]

In 2021, Ireland were awarded qualification for the 2022–25 ICC Women's Championship on the basis of their WODI ranking after the abandonment of the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

On 23 January 2024, Cara Murray became the first Irish player to take six wickets in a WODI with 6/31 against Zimbabwe in Harare.^[17][18]

Tournament history

Women's Cricket World Cup

• 1988: 4th
• 1993: 5th
• 1997: Quarter finals
• 2000: 7th
• 2005: 8th

Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier

• 2003: 1st (Qualify)
• 2008: 3rd
• 2011: 6th
• 2017: 6th
• 2021: Cancelled

ICC Women's T20 World Cup

• 2014: 10th
• 2016: 10th
• 2018: 10th
• 2023: 10th

ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier

• 2013: 3rd (DNQ)
• 2015: Qualify
• 2018: Qualify
• 2019: 3rd (DNQ)
• 2022: 2nd (Q)

European Championship

• 1989: 4th place
• 1990: Runners-up
• 1991: 3rd place
• 1995: Runners-up
• 1999: Runners-up
• 2001: Winners
• 2005: Runners-up
• 2009: Winners

Squad

This lists all the players with a central contract with Cricket Ireland or were named in the most recent ODI or T20I squad. Uncapped players are listed in italics

Name	Age	Batting style	Bowling style	Contract	Format	Notes
Batters
Rebecca Stokell	25	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Full-time	ODI & T20I
Gaby Lewis	24	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break	Full-time	ODI & T20I	Captain
Una Raymond-Hoey	28	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Retainer	ODI & T20I
Sarah Forbes	22	Right-handed		Educational	ODI & T20I
Christina Coulter Reilly	21	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break	Casual	ODI & T20I
Abbi Harrison	18	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	Casual
All-rounders
Orla Prendergast	22	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Full-time	ODI & T20I
Leah Paul	25	Left-handed	Slow left-arm orthodox	Full-time	ODI & T20I
Laura Delany	33	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Full-time	ODI & T20I
Sophie MacMahon	28	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Full-time	ODI & T20I
Louise Little	21	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Full-time	ODI & T20I
Wicket-keepers
Amy Hunter	19	Right-handed	–	Educational	ODI & T20I
Joanna Loughran	20	Right-handed	–	Educational	ODI
Spin Bowlers
Cara Murray	24	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break	Full-time	ODI & T20I
Freya Sargent	19	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	Full-time	ODI & T20I
Aimee Maguire	18	Right-handed	Slow left-arm orthodox	Educational	ODI & T20I
Kia McCartney	20	Right-handed	Right-arm off break	Casual
Seam Bowlers
Arlene Kelly	31	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Full-time	ODI & T20I
Ava Canning	21	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Educational	ODI & T20I
Jane Maguire	22	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Full-time	ODI & T20I
Georgina Dempsey	20	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Educational	ODI & T20I
Alana Dalzell	24	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Full-time	ODI & T20I
Alice Tector	16	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Casual	ODI & T20I

Updated as of 11 September 2024.

Records

Main article: Ireland women's cricket team record by opponent

International match summary – Ireland Women^[19][20][21]

Last updated 18 April 2025.

Playing record
Format	M	W	L	T	D/NR	Inaugural match
Test matches	1	1	0	0	0	30 July 2000
One-Day Internationals	190	54	128	1	7	28 June 1987
Twenty20 Internationals	128	55	72	0	1	27 June 2008

Test matches

• Highest team total: 193/3 declared v. Pakistan on 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin. ^[22]
• Highest individual score: 68*, Caitriona Beggs v. Pakistan on 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin.^[23]
• Best innings bowling: 6/21, Isobel Joyce v. Pakistan on 30 July 2000 at Trinity College Park, Dublin. ^[24]

Test record versus other nations^[19]

Records complete to Women's Test #111. Last updated 30 July 2000.

Opponent	M	W	L	T	NR	First match	First win
v. Full Members
Pakistan	1	1	0	0	0	30 July 2000	30 July 2000

One-Day Internationals

• Highest team total: 337/8 v. Netherlands on 24 August 2022 at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen.^[25]
• Highest individual score: 137, Leah Paul v. Netherlands on 24 August 2022 at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen.^[26]
• Best innings bowling: 6/31, Cara Murray v. Zimbabwe on 23 January 2024 at Harare Sports Club, Harare. ^[27]

Most ODI runs for Ireland Women[28] Player Runs Average Career span Gaby Lewis 1,648 31.69 2016–2025 Miriam Grealey 1,412 23.14 1987–2005 Laura Delany 1,337 23.87 2010–2025 Clare Shillington 1,276 17.72 1997–2017 Caitriona Beggs 1,217 24.83 1995–2008

Most ODI wickets for Ireland Women[29] Player Wickets Average Career span Isobel Joyce 66 30.45 1999–2018 Ciara Metcalfe 60 27.00 1999–2017 Barbara McDonald 54 26.75 1993–2005 Cara Murray 48 32.16 2018–2025 Catherine O'Neill 45 22.84 1993–2003

Highest individual innings in Women's ODI[30] Player Score Opposition Match Date Leah Paul 137  Netherlands 24 August 2022 Amy Hunter 121*  Zimbabwe 11 October 2021 Karen Young 120  Pakistan 27 July 2000 Mary-Pat Moore 114*  Denmark 18 July 1995 Laura Delany 109  Netherlands 24 August 2022

Best bowling figures in an innings in Women's ODI[31] Player Score Opposition Match Date Cara Murray 6/31  Zimbabwe 23 January 2024 Eimear Richardson 5/13  Netherlands 5 August 2009 Ciara Metcalfe 5/18  Netherlands 17 August 2007 Aimee Maguire 5/19  England 11 September 2024 Susan Bray 5/27  Denmark 18 July 1990

ODI record versus other nations^[20]

Records complete to WODI #1454. Last updated 18 April 2025.

Opponent	M	W	L	T	NR	First match	First win
v. Full Members
Australia	17	0	17	0	0	28 June 1987
Bangladesh	10	1	7	0	2	26 November 2011	21 August 2012
England	20	2	18	0	0	5 December 1988	12 August 2001
India	15	0	15	0	0	26 July 1993
New Zealand	20	0	18	0	2	29 November 1998
Pakistan	22	6	16	0	0	18 December 1997	18 December 1997
South Africa	20	1	18	0	1	5 August 1997	11 August 2016
Sri Lanka	7	2	4	0	1	5 December 2000	16 August 2024
West Indies	12	1	10	0	1	29 July 1993	21 July 2001
Zimbabwe	7	5	1	1	0	5 October 2021	7 October 2021
v. Associate Members
Denmark	7	6	1	0	0	19 July 1989	19 July 1989
Japan	1	1	0	0	0	22 July 2003	22 July 2003
Netherlands	25	23	2	0	0	30 November 1988	30 November 1988
Scotland	6	5	1	0	0	11 August 2001	11 August 2001
Thailand	1	1	0	0	0	15 April 2025	15 April 2025

Twenty20 Internationals

• Highest team total: 213/4, v Netherlands on 12 August 2019 at Sportpark Het Schootsveld, Deventer. ^[32]
• Highest individual innings: 119, Gaby Lewis v Sri Lanka on 13 August 2024 at Sydney Parade, Dublin. ^[33]
• Best innings bowling: 5/12, Arlene Kelly v Netherlands on 14 August 2023 at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen. ^[34]

Most WT20I runs for Ireland Women[35] Player Runs Average Career span Gaby Lewis 2,318 28.61 2014–2024 Laura Delany 1,386 20.38 2010–2024 Orla Prendergast 1,220 25.95 2019–2024 Clare Shillington 1,019 18.52 2008–2018 Amy Hunter 995 28.42 2021–2024

Most WT20I wickets for Ireland Women[36] Player Wickets Average Career span Laura Delany 87 19.31 2010–2024 Arlene Kelly 61 14.32 2022–2024 Eimear Richardson 60 21.33 2008–2024 Orla Prendergast 43 19.00 2010–2024 Kim Garth 42 19.88 2010–2019

WT20I record versus other nations^[21]

Records complete to WT20I #2151. Last updated 9 December 2024.

Opponent	M	W	L	T	NR	First match	First win
v. Full Members
Australia	8	0	8	0	0	27 March 2014
Bangladesh	14	6	8	0	0	28 August 2012	5 December 2015
England	4	1	3	0	0	23 June 2012	15 September 2024
India	2	0	2	0	0	15 November 2018
New Zealand	4	0	4	0	0	18 March 2016
Pakistan	19	4	15	0	0	25 May 2009	25 May 2009
South Africa	13	2	11	0	0	1 August 2008	3 August 2016
Sri Lanka	5	1	4	0	0	14 October 2010	13 August 2024
West Indies	8	0	8	0	0	27 June 2008
Zimbabwe	7	7	0	0	0	23 September 2022	23 September 2022
v. Associate Members
France	1	1	0	0	0	29 August 2021	29 August 2021
Germany	1	1	0	0	0	26 August 2021	26 August 2021
Namibia	1	1	0	0	0	31 August 2019	31 August 2019
Netherlands	16	14	1	0	1	6 August 2009	6 August 2009
Papua New Guinea	2	2	0	0	0	12 July 2018	12 July 2018
Scotland	14	9	5	0	0	8 July 2018	8 July 2018
Thailand	5	2	3	0	0	7 July 2018	7 July 2018
Uganda	1	1	0	0	0	10 July 2018	10 July 2018
United Arab Emirates	1	1	0	0	0	25 April 2024	25 April 2024
United States	1	1	0	0	0	19 September 2022	19 September 2022
Vanuatu	1	1	0	0	0	1 May 2024	1 May 2024

See also

• Irish men's cricket team
• List of Ireland women Test cricketers
• List of Ireland women ODI cricketers
• List of Ireland women Twenty20 International cricketers