Ireland stunned West Indies to record their first ever win in the Women’s World T20 Cup

Ireland’s Orla Prendergast (AP Photo) Ireland finally ended their long wait for an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup victory when they beat West Indies by six wickets in Bristol on Saturday to record their first ever victory in the tournament after a 21-match losing streak spanning 12 years.The result not only marked a historic milestone for Ireland but also had a major impact on the semi-final race. A win would guarantee West Indies a place in the last four. Instead, the defeat gave defending champions New Zealand a lifeline. The White Ferns can now qualify for the semi-finals if they beat England later on Saturday, while a win in England would still send the West Indies through.Ireland’s triumph added to a memorable weekend for the country after the men’s side beat India for the first time in a T20I in Belfast.After restricting the West Indies to 128/7, Ireland chased down the target with 11 balls to spare. Orla Prendergast produced another winning performance anchoring the innings with a superb 63 off 44 deliveries. Her knock put Ireland firmly in control before she departed with just 21 runs remaining.Rebecca Stokell and Louise Little kept their composure during the closing stages, with the latter sealing a famous victory by crossing the winning points at the halfway mark as Ireland finished on 129/4.Earlier, West Indies struggled to gain momentum after being sent into bat, managing only 128/7 despite several batting starts. Ireland’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding ensured that the Caribbean side could never accelerate, leaving them with a sub-par total to defend.