Having lost the opening two ODI encounters of their three-match series, and been dismissed for just 45 in the latter of those meetings, Ireland got themselves into a promising position in Tuesday’s final face-off at Stormont before those three quick dismissals left the outcome very much in the balance.
A contribution of 72 off 56 balls by Ireland skipper Gaby Lewis had seemingly teed up a landmark success but after that collapse it was left to her team-mate to provide the coup de grace.
“Obviously the batters before me had put us in a great position to help us chase down that total. Gaby had a good knock to even get us in that position,” said Dalzell.
“The last over was a bit nerve-racking. We were getting closer to chasing down the total, then the wickets started falling, the nerves started rising even more and I found myself walking on to the pitch, which I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do,” explained Alana.
“Once you’re in that situation you’re not going to back down from it. I went in knowing I had to score a boundary. I picked a plan, committed to it, stuck with it and it paid off.”
Dalzell revealed to her fellow batter Rebecca Stokell on her way to the wicket that “the plan was just to go straight”.
“I had thought about sweeping but straight was my safest option. I just went for it and it paid off. It all seemed to happen really quickly but I just connected with it and it went,” she explained.
“All I remember is Reb [Rebecca Stokell] shouting at me to run but luckily the ball went over the line and we got the four runs. It was a great feeling to be able to do that for the team.”