Southampton, June 17 (IANS) Hosts England marched ahead in their charge towards their maiden title as they continued their winning run in the Women’s T20 World Cup, registering a four-wicket win over Ireland in a rain-delayed match at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton on Tuesday.

With the experienced Sophie Ecclestone spearheading the bowling attack by claiming 3-22, England restricted Ireland to 118/9. In reply, captain Nat-Sciver Brunt led from the front as the hosts chased down the target in 17.3 overs to secure a four-wicket win.

This is England’s second win in Group B after they started with an 87-run victory over Sri Lanka on the opening day.

Opting to field first, the English bowlers made the most of the overcast conditions to make early inroads as both the Irish openers, Amy Hunter and Alana Dalzell, were sent back inside the first five overs. Captain Gaby Lewis also departed without troubling the scorers.

Bowling a tight line and length, England kept the pressure on Ireland by choking runs. They bowled a total of 60 dot balls, with Charlie Dean contributing 20 of them. Dean was the most economical of the English bowlers, with 2-11 in her four overs, while the experienced Sophie Ecclestone finished with 3-22. Danielle Gibson claimed 2-10 in two overs to help England dominate with the ball.

Ireland had their chances, but they failed to capitalise on them. With the team reduced to 25/3, Orla Prendergast took the attack to England. She struck two fours off Ecclestone, starting with a late cut past backward point, in the sixth over to give them a boost. The budding innings, however, was cut short for 26 off 18, with four fours.

Later on, Louise Little made sure Ireland finished on a high. She hit four fours off Lauren Bell in the final over, including a flick through backward square leg on the last ball, to garner 17 runs. It was Ireland’s best over of the innings and took them to 118/9.

On resumption, Ireland gave England a scare early on as they claimed three wickets in 10 balls to reduce the hosts to 35/3 inside Power-play.

Aimee Maguire made early inroads with two wickets in the fifth over. The first of which was of Amy Jones, who mistimed the ball to mid-off, only for Lewis to pocket it. Two balls later, the Maguire-Lewis combo struck again to dismiss Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who had led England to victory in the tournament opener against Sri Lanka.

In the next over, Prendergast castled Alice Capsey with a yorker. Captain Sciver-Brunt (48) and Heather Knight stemmed the slide with a 64-run stand for the fourth wicket. They picked up the ones and twos, while punishing every loose ball, to keep the scoreboard ticking. Prendergast broke the partnership as she trapped Knight leg before wicket for 26.

England had trouble closing out the match as Sciver-Brunt retired hurt just short of her half-century, while Freya Kemp was run out. But they were within touching distance, and Dean and Gibson saw them through to 119/6 in 17.3 overs.

–IANS

bsk/