Arlene Kelly called time on her international career in Worcester — bowing out as Ireland suffered a third successive defeat in their World Cup qualifying series against England.
The affable 32-year-old, who won the first of her 110 caps in 2022, is missing friends and family on the other side of the world and plans to return home to New Zealand.
A consistent performer, Kelly has been an all-round rock for captains Laura Delany and Gaby Lewis — their go-to medium pacer when the going got tough, and the provider of a number of valuable cameos with the bat.
“We can’t thank Arlene enough for everything she has given to us over the last four years. She has left a real mark on our squad, and she’ll always be a huge part of our Irish cricket family,” Lewis said.
“Although we’re going to miss her hugely, we’re really happy for her to be heading home and being closer to the people she loves.”
Kelly opened the bowling in her final game, bustled through a maiden and then returned towards the end of England’s innings to take her 136th and final wicket.
But it was Cara Murray who again claimed the honours with the ball.
The leg-spinner took her series tally to eight with an excellent set of 4-56 as the Girls in Green bowled out the home side for 291 — far fewer than they would have expected having reached 260-4 halfway through the 43rd over.
The total was well beyond Ireland, though, despite a promising second-wicket partnership of 56 between Alice Tector and Amy Hunter.
Kelly managed just two at number eight as her side were bowled out for 177, and lost by 114 runs.
Meanwhile, the Dublin Guardians will be hoping home advantage helps them get off the mark when the European T20 Premier League decamps to Malahide this week.
The Guardians lost a close encounter with Amsterdam Flames by nine runs in the Netherlands on Saturday, their fifth straight defeat in the new franchise tournament.