LAHORE: Ireland Women completed a comfortable seven wicket victory over Pakistan Women in the third match of the T20I tri series at Castle Avenue, Dublin, on Sunday, chasing down 177 with six balls to spare.
After winning the toss, Pakistan elected to bat and posted a competitive 176 for 6 in their 20 overs. Opener Muneeba Ali anchored the innings with a powerful 65 off 41 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes), while Gull Feroza gave the innings an explosive start with 32 off 15 (six fours), putting on a 44 run opening stand. A key third wicket partnership of 88 between Muneeba and Saira Jabeen (36 off 33) steadied the innings after early breakthroughs, and captain Fatima Sana contributed a brisk 21 off 14 to push Pakistan past the 170 mark. For Ireland, Ava Canning was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 35 from her four overs.
Ireland’s reply was built on two major partnerships and controlled aggression from the top order. Amy Hunter led the chase with 56 off 44 (7 fours, 1 six), sharing a 44 run opening stand with Alana Dalzell. Hunter then combined with Rebecca Stokell in a decisive second wicket partnership of 51, after which Stokell accelerated and finished unbeaten on 60 off 42 (7 fours). Captain Orla Prendergast provided a quickfire cameo of 33 off 17 in a 77 run third wicket stand with Stokell that effectively sealed the contest. Pakistan’s Ayesha Zafar produced a tidy spell and removed Hunter and Prendergast, finishing with 2 for 24.
Ireland reached the target in 19.1 overs, with Stokell and Hunter the principal architects of the win. The result leaves Pakistan to regroup quickly: they face West Indies in the fifth match of the tournament on Wednesday, June 3.
Scores in brief
Women’s T20I tri-series – Match 3 - Ireland beat Pakistan by seven wickets at Castle Avenue Cricket Ground Clontarf, Dublin
Pakistan 176-6, 20 overs (Muneeba Ali 65, Saira Jabeen 36, Gull Feroza 32, Fatima Sana 21; Ava Canning 2-35)
Ireland 177-3, 19.1 overs (Rebecca Stokell 60 not out, Amy Hunter 56, Orla Prendergast 33; Ayesha Zafar 2-24)
Player of the match – Rebecca Stokell (Ireland women).
