DUBLIN: Pakistan Women fell short in their chase against Ireland Women, losing by 11 runs in the first Twenty20 International (T20I) of the three-match series played at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin on Wednesday.
Opting to bowl first, Pakistan’s skipper Fatima Sana delivered a career-best performance, taking 4-26 and leading from the front as her side dismissed the hosts for 142.
However, the batting unit could not build on the bowling success and were restricted to 131 in reply, handing Ireland a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
All-rounder Orla Prendergast starred for the home side, scoring 26 runs and taking three wickets, earning the Player of the Match award.
Ireland made a steady start after losing captain Gaby Lewis early to Fatima Sana, who bowled a sharp inswinger to hit the middle stump.
Opener Amy Hunter anchored the innings with a fluent 37, including five boundaries during the powerplay. She was eventually bowled by Nashra Sandhu, who delivered a tidy spell and kept the scoring in check.
At 70-2 at the halfway stage, Prendergast and left-hander Leah Paul tried to build momentum but were dismissed in quick succession.
Rameen Shamim removed Prendergast with a well-executed delivery that resulted in a top edge to Fatima at short fine leg, while Paul was caught at long-on after a quickfire 28.
Fatima returned to strike again in the death overs, clean bowling Jane Maguire and leading Pakistan’s effort to wrap up the Irish innings. Pacer Diana Baig and two late run-outs saw the hosts bowled out on the final delivery for 142.
Pakistan Women batting
In response, Pakistan’s chase got off to a shaky start. Muneeba Ali was dismissed for five, driving a Prendergast delivery straight to mid-off. Her opening partner Gull Feroza also fell for five, bowled by Maguire.
Veteran Sidra Amin and Aliya Riaz tried to stabilise the innings, but both batters, who had performed well against Ireland in Lahore during the ICC World Cup Qualifiers earlier this year, fell to soft dismissals.
Sidra was caught off Ava Canning, while Aliya was removed by Cara Murray, leaving Pakistan reeling at 42-4 by the ninth over.
Debutant Eyman Fatima and Natalia Pervaiz offered brief resistance, taking Pakistan to 50. However, Eyman was run out in unfortunate fashion after a deflection from bowler Murray hit the stumps.
Captain Fatima Sana showed intent with a boundary but was caught behind off Lara McBride the very next over.
Without DRS available, she could not review the decision and visibly expressed her disagreement before walking off.
Natalia kept fighting with a brisk 34-run stand alongside Rameen, but Prendergast returned to remove her and tighten Ireland’s grip on the match. Despite Rameen’s efforts late in the innings, Pakistan ultimately fell short, ending on 131.
The T20I series is the fifth bilateral contest between the two nations. Both sides have now won two series each, although Pakistan dominate the overall head-to-head with 15 wins in 19 matches since their first meeting in 2009.
Pakistan had arrived in Dublin following an extensive 17-day skills camp and a five-day pre-tour camp at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi.
Ireland, meanwhile, entered the series full of confidence after whitewashing Zimbabwe in both T20I and ODI series last month.
The remaining two T20Is of the series will be crucial for Pakistan as they look to bounce back before hosting South Africa for a three-match series in Lahore from September 16 to 22 — their final assignment before the ICC Women’s World Cup.
Although the World Cup is scheduled to take place in India from September 30 to November 2, Pakistan’s matches will be played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model due to ongoing political tensions between the two countries.
Pakistan are scheduled to face India on October 5, followed by matches against Australia (October 8), England (October 15), New Zealand (October 18), South Africa (October 21), and Sri Lanka (October 24) during the round-robin stage of the tournament.
