Already an Ireland star, Orla's best yet to come

AT one point in Ireland's chase of 260 against Sri Lanka in the first ODI at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast, the required run rate had gone beyond seven.

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Orla Prendergast had already passed her personal best score (71) in the format, but she needed to pull a rabbit out of a hat to keep Ireland in the contest. Just as she was looking to accelerate in the final six overs, the all-rounder lost Arlene Kelly and Alice Tector.

However, Prendergast kept her calm. With 21-year-old Jane Maguire by her side, she took on Sri Lanka's bowling to give Ireland an unlikely win against the newly-crowned champions of Asia. En route, she scored her first ODI century (122 not out) and that came on the back of her best-ever bowling performance (3/25) in the first innings.

Naturally, Prendergast was awarded Player of the Match as former Ireland captain, Isobel Joyce was beaming with pride in the commentary box. "When she was around 15 or 16. She has always been the strong athlete. She was very much a bowler back then," Joyce told this daily.