Louise Little has her eyes set on a rare hat-trick of victories over the West Indies when Ireland begin their ICC Women’s Championship campaign with the first of three one-day internationals in Co Tyrone tomorrow.
The Girls in Green narrowly overcame the higher-ranked team in a warm-up match ahead of the T20 World Cup last month and then recorded a six-wicket victory over the same opponents in the tournament proper.
On both occasions it was Pembroke all-rounder Little who scored the decisive boundary: a thin edge at Clontarf to send Ireland ahead on DLS as the rain arrived, and a more confident blow to win the match in Bristol.
“The gap between the two sides is getting smaller,” Little said. “We’ve gained a lot more experience over the last few years, and shown we can compete with higher-ranked teams.
“There’s a lot of belief within the squad and the mood is really positive. Those games this season against the West Indies have given us a lot of confidence, and hopefully we can carry that momentum into the ODI series.”
Belief will only get the team so far, though, and it will take the likes of Little to step up at the Bready club in the absence of injured stalwarts Laura Delany and Arlene Kelly, and emerging seamer Ava Canning.
“While circumstances at the recent T20 World Cup meant that I didn’t get on, I’m always ready to bowl if I’m needed,” Little said.
“I’ve been working hard on that side of my game. If the opportunity comes in the ODI series, I’ll be happy to contribute.”
The West Indies will start favourites in the 50-over format which gives players more scope to construct an innings, and recover from a collapse or wayward bowling spell.
“In 50-over cricket, you have a bit more time to assess conditions and build your game,” Little said. “There’s a real balance between attacking and being patient. It’s a challenge to do things for longer periods.”
The Women’s Championship is essentially the ICC’s World Cup qualifying pathway for Full Members, with Ireland playing three-match series against the West Indies, India, New Zealand and Pakistan at home, and England, Australia, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka away.
