Ireland head coach Lloyd Tennant is staying optimistic after his team’s four-wicket loss to England at the Hampshire Bowl. He believes the performance against a top contender offered encouragement for the future.
This is Ireland’s fifth appearance at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where they are in Group 2 with hosts England, Sri Lanka, Scotland, West Indies, and defending champions New Zealand. The campaign has started tough, with losses to Scotland and England extending Ireland’s winless streak at the World Cup to 19 matches.
“You would say Scotland was a game that was a 50-50 chance for us. They’d expect to beat us, and we would think we could beat them. Losing in the World Cup is frustrating and can be disheartening,” Tennant said.
However, the mood in the Irish camp improved after their performance against England, considered one of the top teams in world Cricket. Ireland began strongly, restricting England to 35 for 3 during the powerplay, creating early pressure. Despite this, experienced players Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight managed to stabilize the innings, allowing England to eventually chase down the target with 15 balls to spare.
“When you play against England, one of the best sides in the world, it shows we can compete. If there is enjoyment in a loss, we found it there. We take positives from this and aim to build on it,” Tennant added.
With an average squad age of just 23, Ireland is one of the youngest teams in the tournament. Tennant, who took over in June 2025, is focused on making every match a learning opportunity for his developing team. With three group matches left, he encouraged his players to draw confidence from their performance against England and to keep believing in their ability to compete with the best.
“If we can keep our standard in the next three games, I think we’re moving forwards,” Tennant concluded.