5 interesting facts about Orla Prendergast, the all-rounder who helped Ireland to a famous win vs Sri Lanka
Orla Prendergast starred in Ireland Women's historic three-wicket win in the first ODI against Sri Lanka Women two days ago in Belfast. The all-rounder scalped a three-wicket haul in the first innings to help Ireland restrict their opponents to 260-8 in 50 overs.
Chasing 261 for a victory, Ireland were reduced to 211-7, but Orla Prendergast held her nerve and stitched up an unbeaten 50-run eighth wicket partnership with Jane Maguire to help her team win by three wickets.
Notably, Jane scored only seven runs in the partnership, while Orla completed her ton and finished with an unbeaten 107-ball 122, hitting 10 fours and two sixes. It marked Ireland's first ODI win against Sri Lanka in women's cricket.
Ireland captain Gaby Lewis has suffered an injury, so Orla will lead her country for the first time in the remainder of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. Before she becomes the 19th player to lead the Ireland women's cricket team, here are five facts to know about the all-rounder.
#1 Orla Prendergast set a world record in women's ODI cricket
As mentioned earlier, Orla scored 122 off 107, helping Ireland chase down a 261-run target with three wickets in hand. In the process, she broke former Australian player Karen Rolton's record for the highest individual score at No. 4 in a successful women's ODI run chase.
In 1997, Rolton had scored an unbeaten 117 in a successful run-chase against New Zealand.
#2 Orla Prendergast is only 22
Cricketers like Orla are rare to find in women's cricket. She can bowl quality right-arm pace and also bat in the top order. Now, Orla is set to captain her country as well at the age of just 22.
#3 Orla Prendergast joined Aravinda de Silva in an elite club of cricketers
During the first ODI against Sri Lanka, Orla Prendergast not only scored a hundred and recorded a three-wicket haul but also took two catches. The first was to dismiss Hasini Perera off Alana Dalzell.
Later in the match, Orla took a catch off her own bowling to get rid of Sugandika Kumari.
It was a complete all-round performance from Orla. She become only the second cricketer, after Aravinda de Silva, to score a hundred, scalp three wickets and take two catches in the same ODI. Aravinda did it for Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup final against Australia.
#4 Orla Prendergast has played for Shah Rukh Khan's team
It may surprise a few, but Orla has played for a major franchise in T20 cricket. In September 2023, the young Irish all-rounder turned up for Shah Rukh Khan co-owned Trinbago Knight Riders in the Women's Caribbean Premier League.
Orla played only a solitary game for TKR-W. She scored nine runs while batting at No. 3 and bowled a wicketless over, returning with figures of 0-7. TKR-W lost that game against Guyana Amazon Warriors by nine wickets.
#5 Cricket was not Orla Prendergast's first choice
Another surprising fact about Orla is that the 22-year-old all-rounder was more interested in football but decided to make a career in cricket. Speaking with Wisden, Orla explained why she gave up football for cricket:
“I was always quite busy with football. That was my main sport growing up so I only really played cricket during the summer.
“Then the football season changed to be during summer, so I couldn’t really juggle both. At the time, there was real progress being made with the women’s game in Ireland, cricket-wise, and I just decided to give it a go."
Irish cricket fans will be happy that Orla left football. She's all set to make her captaincy debut in the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Sunday.