Women's T20 WC: 'We need to regroup and stick together,' says Lewis after Ireland's defeat to Scotland
Manchester, June 13
Ireland captain Gaby Lewis admitted her side failed to capitalise on a promising start against Scotland and called for the team to regroup after a 40-run defeat in their opening match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Manchester on Sunday.
Ireland began brightly with the ball and clawed back momentum at the death after Scotland had threatened to post an even bigger total. However, a middle-order collapse during the chase left Ireland with plenty to reflect on as they slipped to defeat.
Assessing her team's bowling performance, Lewis pointed to Scotland's dominance during the middle overs as the decisive factor in the contest.
"I think it was probably that middle period. I think we had a good start, as you said. And yeah, I think that middle period just slipped away. Scotland ran really well, played really well. And yeah, hats off to them," Lewis said after the match.
The Irish skipper felt her side had done well to restrict Scotland late in the innings, highlighting the final four overs as a positive takeaway despite the loss.
"It's hard to pinpoint down, I think, at the period, I think at the mid-innings, I think we had a great finish with the ball. I think they were 19 for 2 in the last four overs, which is brilliant. So the momentum was with us early on. Maybe, I guess, Power-play, if we had a better Power-play, it's hard to put a finger on which phase of the game. But I guess, look, go back to the drawing board and hopefully improve next game," she added.
Ireland were well placed at stages of the chase before Scotland's spin attack tightened its grip, triggering a collapse that ultimately proved costly.
Despite the setback, Lewis remained optimistic about her team's prospects in the remainder of the tournament and urged her players to stay united. "I think it's a long tournament. Like, we still have four more games. There are still teams that we feel that we can really put up a fight against and hopefully beat. So I think, just to stick, regroup, stick together. And yeah, that's all I can say," Lewis stated.
Ireland will now turn their attention to their next group-stage fixture against England, scheduled for Tuesday, as they look to bounce back and keep their campaign on track.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The way Scotland's spinners strangled Ireland in the middle overs is a lesson for all associate teams. Special mention to Scotland for their sharp running between wickets. 🇮🇪 needs to learn from this and come back stronger against England. Tough ask, but not impossible.
Lewis is right to focus on the positives—restricting Scotland to 19 runs in the last 4 overs is impressive. But the batting needs serious introspection. Powerplay wickets cost them the game. As an Indian, I know how crucial it is to build partnerships in T20s. Best of luck to Ireland for the rest of the tournament.
Heartbreaking loss for Ireland. They had a great start with the ball and the chase was within reach until the collapse. Lewis's message of sticking together is important—tournament cricket is as much about mental resilience as skill. Scotland deserved the win though, they were clinical.
Have to give credit to Scotland—they outplayed Ireland in all departments. But I hope Gaby and her team don't lose heart. They have the talent; just need to execute better under pressure. The England game will be a real test. Come on Ireland! 🍀
This is a classic example of how spinners can turn a game in the middle overs. Ireland's batting lineup looked clueless. Lewis's positivity is commendable, but they need to address the technical flaws against spin. Otherwise, England will make short work of them.
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