Ireland captain Gaby Lewis 'really proud' of players despite losing T20 World Cup match against England

England won by four wickets to make it two wins from two matches, with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt leading the recovery after her side slipped from 27 without loss to 35 for three within 10 balls, amassing 48 to lead the tournament hosts to within nine runs of their pursuit of 119.

After the start of play was put back an hour due to rain, Ireland were restricted to 118 for nine following a collective disciplined bowling display from England, with Sophie Ecclestone taking three for 22.

Orla Prendergast justified her billing as Ireland’s premier star, following up a cameo 26 with the bat by dismissing Alice Capsey with a superb slower-ball yorker before trapping Knight lbw on review.

Ireland skipper Lewis said: “At the innings break, it was disappointing. I think we’d obviously looked to get close to 140, 150, but, after the powerplay especially losing wickets, it didn’t make it easy for those batters coming in the middle to — I guess we didn’t have a platform.

“In saying that, after the fielding innings, just very proud of the girls. And, all I asked at halftime is that we make those 118 runs as hard as possible for them to get.

“And yeah, I guess we did that. We left it all out there. And yeah, just really proud of the girls for that fielding innings.”

England’s Sciver-Brunt played down her injury scare when she trudged off the field, retiring out.

She admitted she felt a twinge after hitting her fourth four and immediately decided to leave the field at Southampton, but she faces a scan to determine the severity of the problem.

“Just precautionary,” Sciver-Brunt said on Sky Sports after England got home with 15 balls to spare. “Felt a bit of tightness in my calf and didn’t want to push it.”

Ireland’s next game at the T20 World Cup is on Friday at Southampton against New Zealand (6.30pm).