Summary

  • New Zealand beat Ireland by four wins to keep Women's T20 World Cup hopes alive

  • Win would have been Ireland's first-ever in the tournament

  • Prendergast makes 59 and Lewis 58 as Ireland finish 136-4

  • Defending champions New Zealand recover from 10-3 to post 140-6

  • Women's T20 World Cup, Group 2, Southampton

  • Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live Sport commentary at top of page

Have your say on the Women's T20 World Cup

Live Reporting

Kal Sajad

  1. Ed Joyce
    Former Ireland women's coach on BBC Test Match Special

    That is an amazing start for Ireland. They couldn't have dreamt of a better start.

    I love that Orla Prendergast bowled a second over. She is their fastest bowler. They've got to try and keep her on, even if she bowls out her four overs.

  2. wicket

    WICKET

    Green b Prendergast 2 (NZ 10-3)

    Orla Prendergast, just as she did in her previous over, begins with a wicket.

    Once again her length is on the point as Maddy Green makes some space and the ball hits the top of middle stump.

    What a fantastic start.

  3. WinViz has it 59-41 in Ireland's favour against New ZealandBBC Sport/CricViz

    Before the game started, Ireland had a 25% of victory according to WinViz.

    Those two early wickets has boosted that significantly.

  4. NZ 10-2

    Melie KerrGetty Images

    A change in bowling as seamer Arlene Kelly is brought into the attack. Her line and length is spot on as the watchful New Zealand pair look to steady the ship for the champions.

    Just two from the over.

  5. New Zealand's opening woes

    • 5-1 v Ireland
    • 4-1 v Sri Lanka
    • 49-1 v West Indies

    It follows scores of 0-1, 4-1 and 7-1 in their three T20 matches against England in May.

  6. NZ 7-2

    New Zealand are all over the place. Maddy Green calls for a single and is halfway down the wicket before she is sent scrambling back by her skipper Melie Kerr.

    Fantastic first over by Orla Prendergast.

  7. Ed Joyce
    Former Ireland women's coach on BBC Test Match Special

    Orla Prendergast celebrates the wicket of Izzy GazeGetty Images

    That is a huge wicket! She just kept the stumps in play.

    It feels like New Zealand have spoke about being positive and taking risks. It is a big decision to play that shot at this stage.

  8. wicket

    WICKET

    Gaze b Prendergast 1 (NZ 6-2)

    New Zealand are on the ropes early on and Ireland are in dreamland.

    Orla Prendergast bowls a pretty straight one and Izzy Gaze tries a scoop - which looks pretty ugly when it doesn't come off and the ball clatters into middle.

    Both openers are gone and New Zealand already have a rebuild job.

  9. Ed Joyce
    Former Ireland women's coach on BBC Test Match Special

    Aimee Maguire of Ireland celebrates taking the wicket of Georgia Plimmer of New Zealand during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Group B match between New Zealand and Ireland at Hampshire BowlGetty Images

    That is the same position that two catches were taken against England. It is a really good catch and that does bode well for the catching today.

  10. wicket

    WICKET

    Plimmer c Kelly b Maguire 4 (NZ 5-1)

    An early strike for Ireland as Georgia Plimmer advances down the wicket but chips it to Arlene Kelly at mid-off. It's a smart grab at shoulder height.

  11. Ed Joyce
    Former Ireland women's coach on BBC Test Match Special

    New Zealand need positivity from the start. They need to take some risks.

  12. NZ 0-0

    And we're off. We begin with the slow left-arm of Aimee Maguire and Izzy Gaze greets her with a solid defence.

  13. Ed Joyce
    Former Ireland women's coach on BBC Test Match Special

    New Zealand are a very good team and they probably would have won their opening two games if they took their catches.

    There will be two nervous sides out there today but I hope we don't see that out on the field.

  14. There's a scattering of New Zealand fans too, mind you.

    The Irish team are in a huddle as Georgia Plimmer and Izzy Gaze hover on the boundary edge.

    It’s been eight years since these two sides last faced each other in a T20. On that day, Sophie Devine punished Ireland with a rapid 51 and the 2018 World Cup. Following the eight-wicket loss, Irish twin sisters Isobel and Cecelia Joyce retired from the sport.

  15. Amanda-Jade Wellington
    Australia spinner on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Every time you start a new tournament, you should be able to start freely and there is no pressure.

    The pressure has got to New Zealand so hopefully they can start again today and play some with belief.

  16. Time for the national anthems. It's not a huge turnout but still plenty of green shirts in the crowd. There's a young lad draped in an Irish flag and enjoying his ice cream. This is the exact type of weather you want for an evening of T20 cricket.

  17. The teams

    New Zealand: Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Gaze (wk), Melie Kerr (capt), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Izzy Sharp, Suzie Bates, Jess Kerr, Nensi Patel, Rosemary Mair, Bree Illing.

    Ireland: Amy Hunter (wk), Gaby Lewis (capt), Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell, Leah Paul, Alice Tector, Louise Little, Arlene Kelly, Aimee Maguire, Cara Murray, Lara McBride.

  18. New Zealand captain Melie Kerr: "We weren't too bothered either way but we were going to have a bat first. We've got to keep our body language and energy live. There are still games of cricket to play and there is still a mathematical chance we can make the semis."

  19. Ireland captain Gaby Lewis: "It's a new wicket and I guess no clouds so hoping it won't swing under lights. There's plenty of positives to take from the last game so we will just build from that."

  20. Ireland win the toss and will bowl
    Breaking

    Melie Kerr and Gabby Lewis at the tossGetty Images

    Ireland's captain Gaby Lewis calls it correctly under the beautiful sunshine in Southampton and opts to field first.

    We'll get you the full teams shortly but some news from the New Zealand camp. Captain Melie Kerr says superstar Sophie Devine started vomiting on arrival to the ground and will miss the game.