Cross leads youthful England to win over Ireland

First ODI, Belfast

Ireland 210 (46.5 overs): Prendergast 76 (87); Cross 6-30

England 211-6 (34.5 overs): Armitage 44 (44); Prendergast 2-27

England won by 4 wickets

Scorecard

Kate Cross' career-best figures of 6-30 and 38 not retired helped a youthful England broadside to a four-wicket triumph complete Ireland successful nan first one-day world successful Belfast.

England reached their target of 210 pinch 15.1 overs to spare, pinch skipper Cross' highest ODI people rescuing them from a precarious 156-6.

An inexperienced England broadside which included 5 debutants was boosted by Tammy Beaumont's inclusion astatine nan apical of nan order, but she could only negociate 10 arsenic chap opener Emma Lamb besides fell cheaply for four.

But debutants Hollie Armitage and Paige Scholfield impressively steadied nan pursuit pinch a third-wicket guidelines of 62, though nan inexperience did creep successful pinch regular wickets falling successful nan mediate earlier Cross and Heath's match-winning guidelines of 55.

England's debutants were Armitage and Mady Villiers successful their first ODI outings, while Scholfield and 20-year-olds Hannah Baker and Ryana MacDonald-Gay made their afloat world debuts.

Earlier, Ireland were bowled retired for 210 successful 46.5 overs, squandering a coagulated position of 151-3 pinch 20 overs remaining.

All-rounder Orla Prendergast shone pinch 76 from 87 balls, adding important stands of 53 pinch Amy Hunter and 77 pinch Leah Paul.

But Prendergast's departure to Cross stalled nan scoring complaint and Ireland struggled for little bid contributions, losing their past 7 wickets for conscionable 61 runs and settling for a below-par total.

It is Cross' first clip captaining her country, pinch a new-look group sent to Ireland separately to nan T20 squad that will recreation to nan United Arab Emirates successful October.

The 2nd ODI of nan three-match bid takes spot connected Monday astatine nan aforesaid venue, pinch 2 T20s to travel successful Clontarf, Dublin.

Cross has led England's seam onslaught for nan past fewer years and astatine 32, is 1 of accustomed skipper Heather Knight's astir reliable performers.

But connected captaincy debut, she relished nan work fixed to lead an breathtaking but inexperienced group by mounting her ain precocious standards successful each aspects of nan game.

She had opener Una Raymond-Hoey bowled successful nan first complete to group nan reside pinch her unwavering statement and length, perfectly contrasting pinch Lauren Filer's earthy gait astatine nan different end, which troubled Ireland's batters consistently.

Leg-spinner Baker and seamer MacDonald-Gay picked up their first world wickets, nan erstwhile breaking nan third-wicket business by having Amy Hunter caught astatine screen for a good 37.

Cross past brought herself backmost into nan onslaught astatine nan cleanable clip to region Prendergast, who batted pinch astonishing power and assurance earlier chipping a slower shot to mid-off.

From there, she was dominant, taking nan past 4 wickets crossed 2 overs to utilization Ireland's lower-order fragility.

Without Prendergast - who besides removed some England openers successful a fiery opening spell pinch nan shot - it would person been a sorry batting capacity and Ireland must activity to debar their dependence upon nan all-rounder for nan remainder of nan series.

While Cross led nan way, nan assurance of England's debutants shone through.

Armitage and Scholfield, astatine 27 and 28 respectively, would beryllium considered veterans of England's home crippled but had not surgery done internationally.

Forming an assured business aft some openers were mislaid early, they played pinch affirmative aggression and showed nan benefits of accrued professionalism successful nan home game.

Neither was overawed by nan occasion, partially successful acknowledgment to their experiences successful beforehand of large crowds during The Hundred, arsenic Armitage top-scored pinch a run-a-ball 44 and Scholfield adding a valuable 31 from 33 balls.

Both would person been disappointment to propulsion their wickets distant successful consecutive overs to time off England 96-4, pinch Armitage caught astatine screen and Scholfield holing retired successful nan deep.

The different debutants were besides composed, pinch Baker bowling her 10 overs for 53 and MacDonald-Gay finishing pinch 1-30 from her 8 and besides taking a catch.

Villiers, who has played 17 T20s for England, vanished wicketless and only made 13 pinch nan bat, will beryllium hoping for betterment alongside openers Beaumont and Lamb.

But pinch Heath besides playing only her 2nd ODI and Filer successful conscionable her eighth, nan style and assurance pinch which England played suggests a agleam future.

Ireland skipper Gaby Lewis, speaking to Cricket Ireland: "It was a below-par capacity from us. We person sewage to travel backmost stronger.

"There were positives, Orla was brilliant, but we request to make judge we return our opportunities and build partnerships pinch nan bat erstwhile we get in."

England skipper and subordinate of nan lucifer Kate Cross, speaking to Cricket Ireland: "I had a small spot much to deliberation astir pinch captaincy but it made maine return work pinch our 5 debutants.

"We haven't had loads of clip together but they did truthful good to rally astir each other, it was a awesome effort."