Dublin: Ireland’s Orla Prendergast delivered a match-winning all-round performance, scored 29 races and picked up three wickets to lead Ireland to an 11-run win over Pakistan in the opening of T20i in the three-match series at Clontarf Cricket Club on Wednesday.
When he chased a goal of 143, Pakistan faltered in their persecution and succeeded only 131 for 9 in 20 overs, and fell briefly despite a promising effort from the middle order.
Natalia Pervaiz’s top-scored to visitors with a quick 39 from 23 balls, while Rameen Shamim tiled in with a 20-ball 27, but the rest of the batting lineup could not offer sustained resistance.
In addition to them, Top Order could Sidra Amin (15), Aliya Riaz and Skipper Fatima Sana, 14 each, gather double when the rest was upper -class by a disciplined bowling performance of Ireland.
Prendergast was the choice of bowlers for Ireland and took three wickets for only 28 races, followed by Jane Maguire with two, while Ava Canning, Cara Murray and Lara McBride made a scalp.
Put in bats first, Ireland’s batting device unfolded on a modest 142 in 19.4 Overs.
The website was at a shaky start to their lap when their Captain Gaby Lewis (one) was cleaned by Pakistan colleague Sana in the third over with only 18 races on the board.
After the early tribe, Hunter, along with Orla, became prender gasted in the middle, and together they raised an anchor 45 races to the second wicket until the opener eventually fell victim to Nashra Sandhu in the ninth.
Hunter remained top scorer for Ireland with a 30-ball 37 with five four.
Prendergast followed two overs later when she was laid off by Rameen Shamim in the 13th over after scoring 29 out of 26 deliveries using three borders.
Middle order dough, Leah Paul, then knit a one-sided 25-driven partnership for the fourth wicket with Laura Delany until they were laid off by Sadia Iqbal. She scored 29 out of 18 deliveries using four fours.
Paul’s dismissal triggered a match-defining collapse, which saw Ireland losing wickets at an alarming speed until it was finally bowled out on 142 with two balls left.
Skipper Fatima Sana was the prominent bowler for Pakistan when she picked up four wickets for only 26 races in her four overs, while Sadia, Nashra, Rameen and Diana Baig made a scalp.
The 11-driven victory helped Ireland secure a 1-0 lead in three-match series against Pakistan, while expanding their undefeated dashes to eight matches in the shortest format.
