England XI Make It Three in a Row in Spain

England XI made it three straights wins in their defence of the European T10 Women’s Championship title with a 19 runs victory over Ireland in the Premier Division at the Cartama Oval near Malaga.

A superb unbeaten 71 from Lancashire’s former Cumbria left-hander Tilly Kesteven was backed up by another clinical bowling and fielding display, highlighted by Maddie Ward’s outstanding wicketkeeping.

At one stage it appeared that Ireland were going to chase down a stiff target of 115 when they reached 78 for two in the seventh over.

But Ward’s smart glovework accounted for Ireland’s top-scorer Annabel Squires, who was stumped off a wide, and Georgina Sweeney who was run out by a combination of the speed of Amy Gordon’s accurate throw from point and Ward’s sharp work.

Ireland then lost four wickets in successive balls in the ninth over bowled by Emilia Lamb. Ward stumped Joanna Loughran, Ellie McGee was run out by a direct hit from Kesteven, Julie McNally slapped a catch to Gordon at point and Kia McCarthy was yorked first ball.

Jennifer Jackson survived the hat-trick ball from Lamb but was run out from the first ball of the tenth over.

With Niamh MacNulty unable to bat because of injury, England XI had wrapped up victory in a hurry with Ireland losing five wickets in seven balls, including a wide.

Earlier Kesteven had batted through the innings, accelerating smoothly after she had played herself in.

Having made a duck against Netherlands and struggled to find her touch against Scotland on Sunday, Kesteven played a perfectly-paced innings that took England XI to an imposing total.

Kesteven lost her opening partner, Gordon, in the first over of the match but then shared a second wicket partnership of 44 with Jasmine Westley (20).

Westley pushed a return catch to McGee and Rachel King soon followed, caught at short hird, but Kesteven cut loose in the last three overs of the innings, reaching her half century from 24 balls then then striking the next five balls she faced either over or to the rope.

The last over of the innings, bowled by Louise Little, went for 28 with Kesteven finishing with five sixes and seven fours.

Caitlin Belcher made an early breakthrough when Ireland began their chase with Lamb holding a superb catch running in from point despite a strong swirling wind.

Squires and Little then shared a second wicket partnership of 45 which got Ireland ahead of the rate before Little picked out Kesteven at point off Gibson and England XI expertly throttled the chase.

England XI were forced into a late change when Yorkshire’s Ria Fackrell suffered a head injury when she top-edged a ball in the warm-up and she was replaced by Rhiannon Knowling-Davies.

European T10 Women’s Championship

Cartama Oval, Malaga

England XI 114-4 (Tilly Kesteven 71 not out, Jasmine Westley 20, Sophie MacMahon 2-10), Ireland 95 (Annabel Squires 30, Emilia Lamb 3-5, Caitlin Belcher 2-19). England XI won by 19 runs.

England XI | Chiara Green (Sussex), Beth Gammon (Glamorgan), Libby Thomas (Glamorgan), Maddie Ward (Yorkshire), Ria Fackrell (Yorkshire), Amy Wheeler (The Blaze), Caitlin Belcher (Gloucestershire), Rhiannon Knowling-Davies (Derbyshire), Emilia Lamb (Lancashire), Tilly Kesteven (Lancashire), Rachel King (Sussex), Jasmine Westley (unattached), Amy Gordon (Kent).

📸 Diana Oros