Pakistan Women fall short by 11 runs as Ireland claim victory in 1st T20I of 2025. Orla Prendergast shines with bat and ball in Dublin showdown.
Match Summary
- Match: Ireland Women vs Pakistan Women, 1st T20I
- Venue: Castle Avenue, Dublin
- Result: Ireland Women won by 11 runs
- Player of the Match: Orla Prendergast
Ireland Women’s Innings: 142 All Out (19.4 overs)
- Opting to bat first after losing the toss, Ireland got off to a decent start with Amy Hunter anchoring the innings. The wicketkeeper-batter top-scored with a fluent 37 off 30 balls, supported well by Orla Prendergast (29 off 26) and Leah Paul (28 off 19).
- Although Ireland got off to a solid start, their innings faltered in the latter half as skipper Fatima Sana led Pakistan’s bowling attack with an impressive 4-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 4/26 in 4 overs. The hosts were eventually dismissed for 142 in 19.4 overs.
🔹 Top Performers – Ireland Women
- Amy Hunter – 37 off 30 balls
- Orla Prendergast – 29 off 26 balls
- Leah Paul – 28 off 19 balls
🔹 Pakistan Bowling Highlights
- Fatima Sana – 4/26
- Nashra Sandhu – 1/21
- Rameen Shamim – 1/28
Pakistan Women’s Innings: 131/9 (20 overs)
- Chasing a target of 143, Pakistan Women struggled to build momentum throughout their innings. Early wickets of Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza put pressure on the visitors, and despite cameos from Natalia Pervaiz (29 off 23), Rameen Shamim (27 off 20), and Fatima Sana (14 off 7), the run chase faltered.
- Orla Prendergast shone with the ball too, picking up 3 crucial wickets for 28 runs, while Jane Maguire and Ava Canning kept the pressure on with economical spells.
🔹 Top Performers – Pakistan Women
- Natalia Pervaiz – 29 off 23 balls
- Rameen Shamim – 27 off 20 balls
- Fatima Sana – 14 off 7 balls
🔹 Ireland Bowling Highlights
- Orla Prendergast – 3/28
- Jane Maguire – 2/20
- Ava Canning – 1/9 (4 overs, 1 maiden)
🌟 Player of the Match: Orla Prendergast
Orla Prendergast emerged as the standout performer of the match, contributing with both bat and ball. She scored a crucial 29 runs and picked up 3 key wickets, playing a vital role in Ireland’s win. Her all-round effort rightly earned her the Player of the Match award.
📌 Key Moments
- Ireland’s aggressive powerplay: Scored 48 runs in the first 6 overs, setting the tone.
- Fatima Sana’s four-wicket haul: Gave Pakistan hope with her fiery spell.
- Ireland’s sharp fielding: Two run-outs and excellent catching tightened the screws.
- Tight death overs bowling: Ireland’s bowlers held their nerve in the final overs to secure the win.
👀 What’s Next?
- Ireland Women now hold a 1-0 advantage in the T20I series following this victory. The teams will meet again in the second T20I, with Pakistan eager to level the series, while Ireland will look to wrap it up with back-to-back wins.
- Stay tuned to ChullCricket.in for live updates, match analysis, and more action from the Pakistan Women’s tour of Ireland 2025!