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DUBLIN: Ireland Women delivered a commanding performance to defeat Pakistan Women by 7 wickets with five balls remaining in the third match of the Ireland Tri-Nation Women’s T20I Series on Saturday, completing a memorable chase at home.
Pakistan Women posted a competitive total of 176 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Despite a strong start and useful contributions throughout the innings, they were unable to fully capitalize in the final overs.
Muneeba Ali led Pakistan’s batting effort with a fluent 65 off 41 deliveries, anchoring the innings with confidence and timing. Gull Feroza provided early momentum at the top of the order with a quick 32 off just 15 balls, while Saira Jabeen added a valuable 36 runs to push the total to a challenging score. However, Pakistan’s middle order struggled to accelerate against Ireland’s disciplined bowling attack during key phases of the innings.
Among the Irish bowlers, Ava Canning stood out with an impressive spell, finishing with figures of 2 for 35. Ireland maintained control in the death overs, restricting Pakistan from reaching a more dominant total despite their promising platform.
In response, Ireland Women chased down the target of 177 with remarkable composure, finishing at 177 for 3 in 19.1 overs. The foundation of the chase was laid by openers Amy Hunter and Rebecca Stokell, who put together a strong opening stand to neutralize Pakistan’s early bowling efforts.
Amy Hunter played an aggressive innings of 56 off 44 balls before being dismissed by Ayesha Zafar. Rebecca Stokell then carried the innings forward brilliantly, remaining unbeaten on 60 off 42 balls, steering Ireland comfortably toward victory. Captain Orla Prendergast added further momentum with a rapid 33 off just 17 deliveries, ensuring there were no late setbacks.
Pakistan’s bowlers fought hard to regain control, with Ayesha Zafar emerging as the most successful bowler, taking 2 wickets for 24 runs. Rameen Shamim claimed one wicket, but Ireland’s depth in batting and fearless approach proved decisive in the end.
Rebecca Stokell was named Player of the Match for her match-winning unbeaten half-century, while Orla Prendergast earned recognition as Cricinfo’s MVP for her all-round contribution to the game.
The victory gives Ireland a significant boost in the tri-series standings, showcasing their growing strength in women’s international cricket. For Pakistan, the result serves as a setback, with the team now aiming to regroup and bounce back strongly in their remaining fixtures.
The match once again highlighted the increasing competitiveness in women’s T20 cricket, where emerging teams like Ireland continue to challenge established sides with confident and aggressive performances.
