Ireland v England: Kate Cross’ 6-30 secures visitors’ win in ODI opener

Kate Cross’ career-best figures of 6-30 and 38 not out helped a youthful England side to a four-wicket win over Ireland in the first one-day international in Belfast.

England reached their target of 210 with 15.1 overs to spare, with captain Cross’ highest ODI score rescuing them from a precarious 156-6.

An inexperienced England side which included five debutants was boosted by Tammy Beaumont’s inclusion at the top of the order, but she could only manage 10 as fellow opener Emma Lamb also fell cheaply for four.

But debutants Hollie Armitage and Paige Scholfield impressively steadied the chase with a third-wicket stand of 62, though the inexperience did creep in with regular wickets falling in the middle before Cross and Heath’s match-winning stand of 55.

England’s debutants were Armitage and Mady Villiers in their first ODI outings, while Scholfield and 20-year-olds Hannah Baker and Ryana MacDonald-Gay made their full international debuts.

Earlier, Ireland were bowled out for 210 in 46.5 overs, squandering a solid position of 151-3 with 20 overs remaining.

All-rounder Orla Prendergast shone with 76 from 87 balls, adding crucial stands of 53 with Amy Hunter and 77 with Leah Paul.

But Prendergast’s departure to Cross stalled the scoring rate and Ireland struggled for lower order contributions, losing their last seven wickets for just 61 runs and settling for a below-par total.

It is Cross’ first time captaining her country, with a new-look group sent to Ireland separately to the T20 squad that will travel to the United Arab Emirates in October.

The second ODI of the three-match series takes place on Monday at the same venue, with two T20s to follow in Clontarf, Dublin.