Ireland moved atop the Tri-Nation women’s T20I series table after completing a one-run victory (by DLS) over West Indies in the tournament’s fourth match. It was also Ireland’s first win over West Indies in the T20I format.

Chasing 142 in 20 overs, Orla Prendergast held the Irish chase together with an unbeaten 46-ball 71 from No. 4, but it was No. 7 Louise Little’s boundary at the start of the 15th over that was just as important. Little’s four pushed Ireland to 99 for 5 after 14.1 overs, and importantly beyond the DLS par of 98 at the time, after which bad weather stopped play. Ireland were declared victors with play not resuming again.

Prendergast shone with the ball too, with her 2 for 26 in four overs including key wickets in the death overs of Aaliyah Alleyne and Zaida James. However, Ava Canning’s 2 for 11 in four overs stole the show in the first innings, with the early wickets of Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph.

Stafanie Taylor retired hurt for nine runs, which at one time had left West Indies effective five-down for 53, and it was only because of a 44-run partnership between Shemaine Campbelle (21) and Jannillea Glasgow (36) that they could post 141 for 8.

A double-wicket burst from West Indies’ Shawnisha Hector in the opening over of the chase rocked Ireland up top, but their captain Prendergast got on top of the bowling with 11 fours and a six in her innings that contributed nearly 72% of Ireland’s total runs.

Her strike-rate of 154.33 ensured Ireland were on course with the required run-rate, even if it the struggles from the other batters had left the hosts five-down in 10.3 overs. Prendergast was the dominating force in the sixth-wicket partnership with Little too, with the latter scoring only five runs off her first seven deliveries. However, Little did deliver the match-winning shot with her only four of the innings off what turned out to be the game’s last delivery.

Ireland and West Indies now have two wins in three games. Pakistan, the other team, are winless after two matches.