Despite a captain's innings of 57 by Miriam Grealey, which won her the batswoman of the match award, Ireland went down to a nine wicket defeat by South Africa in their third group match of the World Cup in Pune yesterday.
Grealey (YMCA), Catherine O'Neill (Railway Union) and Grainne Leahy (Clontarf) were the only Irish batswomen to reach double figures against the same bowling line-up that helped South Africa to a 3-0 win in its first ever one day series in Ireland last summer.
The Irish were bowled out for 155, a target reached by the South Africans in 29 overs, for the loss of just one wicket. However, despite the defeat, Ireland remain on course for a top four finish in their group and a place in the quarterfinals. "It was a fine innings by Miriam, she really did us proud," said Irish bowler Davina Pratt, who is still recovering from a stomach bug and was forced to sit out yesterday's match. "On the day we just didn't play to our potential, we needed more runs on the board. The South Africans really are a fine team and when they came out to bat they just got stuck in and took it to us.
"It was hard work out there for the girls, the heat at the start was horrific. We're disappointed with the result, but not too downhearted. If we can go out and play to our potential against England (tomorrow) we believe we could really surprise them." Pratt took advantage of her `day off' yesterday to soak up the atmosphere at the ground in Pune, where close to 5,000 people turned up to watch the match. "It's the most amazing place, a huge stadium. You couldn't walk around the ground without being asked for your autograph."
Pratt, a pilot with Aer Lingus and a native of Killeshandra, Co Cavan, did her best to promote her home town with the Pune locals during the match. "I asked them if they knew where it was and they said they didn't. Then I gave them a few choices - Australia, Ireland or the North Pole... and they picked the North Pole," she said.
In yesterday's other Group A matches England beat Denmark by 194 runs while Australia had a nine wicket victory over hapless Pakistan, whose total of 29 was the lowest ever recorded in a women's World Cup match.
