Bouchier and Boyce guide England Academy to easy win

Half centuries from Maia Bouchier and Georgie Boyce followed by a three-wicket hauls from Sarah Glenn and Sophia Dunkley saw England Academy hand Ireland another crushing defeat in the third T20 at Millfield School in Somerset on Thursday (July 18).

Chasing a mammoth 163 for victory, Ireland got off to a terrific start courtesy Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast. The pair batted positively, scoring 67 runs in eight overs, before Lewis was dismissed by Glenn for a well made 41. The tall right-hander, struck eight fours and scored her runs at a strike rate of 132.3.

Prendergast, who showed some promise with the bat in the earlier matches as well, scored a 23-ball 30, including four boundaries and the only six of the innings. The 17-year old was dismissed by Glenn with Ireland’s score on 76 in the 11th over. Her wicket marked the end for the visitors, as England Academy continues to chip away at the wickets.

The hosts’ bowlers dried up the runs effectively and watched as Ireland self-destructed. The visitors lost eight wickets for 28 runs in the space of 8.4 overs as Glenn and Dunkley wreaked havoc. The pair finished with combined figures of 6 for 18.

Earlier in the day, it was England Academy’s openers, Bouchier and Boyce who set up the hosts’ victory. Their 115-run opening stand in 15.1 overs set the tone for the day. Bouchier was the aggressor smashing nine boundaries on her way to a 41-ball 61 before she was dismissed by Hannah Little. Boyce, on the other hand, slowly accumulated a run-a-ball half-century. She struck four boundaries in her knock of 53.

With Engalnd Academy coasting on 124 for 2 in 16.3 overs when Boyce was run-out by H Little, the remaining batters were simply swinging for the fences, looking to cash in off every delivery. It was an approach that saw the hosts lose four wickets in quick succession, but also yielded 36 runs. England Academy finished with 162 for 6 in 20 overs.

Little was Ireland’s best bowler, having picked up three wickets for 31 runs.

Brief scores: England Academy 162/6 in 20 overs (Maia Bouchier 61, Georgie Boyce 53; Hannah Little 3-31) beat Ireland 104 in 19.1 overs (Gaby Lewis 41, Orla Prendergast 30; Sophia Dunkley 3-6, Sarah Glenn 3-12) by 58 runs.