• Rebecca Stokell led Ireland with 22.
• Alana King and Darcie Brown both had great bowling performances.
• Gaby Lewis smashed Megan Schutt before Brown bowled a double-wicket maiden.

Alana King and Darcie Brown both had great bowling performances, which helped Australia beat Ireland by nine wickets in the second Tri-Nation Women’s T20I match in Bready.

King took 3 for 9 and Brown bagged 2 for 9 as Ireland crawled to 99 for 8 in 20 overs. Rebecca Stokell led Ireland with 22.

After Alyssa Healy’s early loss, Beth Mooney and Meg Lanning chased the mark in 12.5 overs.

Lanning won the toss and put Ireland in before Brown’s spell. Gaby Lewis hit Megan Schutt to deep backward square in the first over before Brown bowled a double-wicket maiden.

Orla Prendergast and Laura Delany couldn’t keep up. Brown flattened Prendergast’s off stump when driving up. Brown pinned Delany with a quick short ball before shooting straight. Delany attempted to cut offside, but her leg stump was squashed.

In the fourth over, Ireland was 16-3 and never recovered. King hit quickly after the powerplay, capturing Rachel Delaney lbw.

Brown bowled four overs with 16 dot balls and two wickets. After 10 overs, Ireland was 40-4 and then 44-6. Mary Waldron beat Nicola Carey and King beat Stokell. King’s lbw scream was denied. She sharply turned the edge. Next ball Stokell played for turn and was defeated by one that skidded and hit leg stump.

Leah Paul and Ava Canning batted through Ireland’s overs. King caught Paul sweeping in the 19th over for 12, and Canning was not out.

Mooney and Lanning escaped with some luck. Mooney chipped Jane Maguire to mid-off and Stokell dropped a sitter. Mooney slog-swept the pacer for six to add salt. Healy battled on the sluggish pitch, hitting one boundary in 11 balls before being run out for 10.

Mooney and Lanning put the game away with an unbroken 68-run partnership in over seven overs.

Tuesday, Ireland plays Pakistan, and Thursday, Australia.

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