Wong returned figures of 5-33 at the County Ground in Derby on Thursday to earn the Player of the Match award as England defeated Ireland by six wickets and sealed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For the 24-year-old, the performance was a significant milestone after a difficult start to her international career. Wong made her England debut in 2022 but had to spend long periods waiting for opportunities, with Thursday\u2019s match only her sixth ODI appearance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reflecting on her breakthrough performance, Wong said the hard work behind the scenes was finally beginning to show.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe journey\u2019s quite short, I guess, but it feels like behind the scenes there\u2019s a lot of that and a lot of work, so it\u2019s really pleasing,\u201d Wong said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI feel like I\u2019ve come on a lot, and it feels like I\u2019ve worked quite hard, and I guess when you work hard, then good things happen.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wong also admitted that representing England and producing a match-winning performance made the occasion particularly special.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAny time you get to represent England is a really proud feeling, and any time you do well in a cricket match is also a proud feeling, so to put the two together probably for the first time in my international career, if I\u2019m being honest with myself, is really nice,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wong has been given an extended opportunity in the series, with first-choice seamer Lauren Bell rested, while England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt remains sidelined with a calf problem.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, Wong credited Bell for playing an important role in her recent development. The two pacers recently played together for Southern Brave during The Hundred, while Wong has also worked closely with Lauren Filer and Ryana MacDonald-Gay.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt feels like we\u2019ve worked together quite a lot in various different places, and it\u2019s been really cool for us to go out and showcase how far it feels like we\u2019ve come,\u201d Wong said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cLauren Bell has been brilliant at really passing on her knowledge. She\u2019s obviously played a lot more games than the three of us, and certainly for me and Filer to be able to spend the international summer working really closely, it feels like the three of us got to know each other really well,\u201d she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wong said her time alongside Bell at Southern Brave had further helped her development.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cLauren Bell has been brilliant at really passing on her knowledge. She\u2019s obviously played a lot more games than the three of us, and certainly for me and Filer to be able to spend the international summer working really closely, it feels like the three of us got to know each other really well,\u201d she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England will look to complete a series sweep when the teams meet in the third and final ODI in Worcester on September 6.<\/p>\r\n\r\n