Ireland take unassailable lead in T20I series after last-ball thriller

DUBLIN: Ireland romped to a thrilling four-wicket win over Pakistan in the second T20I taking an unassailable lead in the three-match series here at the Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin. The hosts overhauled the 169-run target with a Jane Maguire six against Sadia Iqbal on last ball of the 20th over. Orla Prandergast’s half-century, Laura Delany’s 42 and Rebecca Stokell’s unbeaten 16-ball 34 were vital in Ireland getting over the line. The third T20I match of the series will be played at the same venue on Sunday, 10 August with the first ball expected to be bowled at 4pm local time. Ireland required 22 off the last two overs with Delany and Stokell on the crease. Fatima Sana removed the former on the last ball of penultimate after the duo had eked out 13 runs from the first five balls. With nine required in the last over, Sadia Iqbal gave away just five runs on the first four balls before getting Ava Canning stumped for four.

Pakistan drew the first blood by running out Amy Hunter with 13 runs on the board, while Rameen Shamim struck twice in the sixth over to leave Ireland 35-5 at the end of Powerplay. Prendargast and Delany then joined forces to get their team out of trouble with a massive 76-run stand, which lasted 9.2 overs. Rameen returned to dismiss Ireland’s half-centurion in the 16th over before Delany partnered with player of the match Stokell to put on a breezy 23-ball 49-run stand. For Pakistan Rameen returned figures of 4-0-36-3, while Sadia and Fatima dismissed one batter each. Earlier, the returning batter Shawaal Zulfiqar and experienced Muneeba Ali gave Pakistan a decent start of 62 runs in eight overs before both departed on consecutive balls. Eyman Fatima (23, 16b, 2x4s, 1×6) and Natalia Parvaiz (31, 17b, 5x4s) then steered the innings by putting on a rapid 43-run stand. Fatima Sana’s 16-ball 23 comprising of a six and a four and Tuba Hassan’s unbeaten 10 helped Pakistan post their fourth-highest T20I total. Cara Murray and Lara McBride picked up two wickets each.

Brief scores:

Match 2 of 3: Ireland beat Pakistan by four wickets at the Clontarf Cricket Club

Pakistan 168-6, 20 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 33, Natalia Parvaiz 31, Muneeba Ali 27, Eyman Fatima 23, Fatima Sana 23, Tuba Hassan 10 not out; Lara McBride 2-27, Cara Murray 2-33) vs Ireland 171-6, 20 overs (Orla Prandergast 51, Laura Delany 42, Rebecca Stokell 34 not out, Gaby Lewis 21; Rameen Shamim 3-36)

Player of the match – Rebecca Stokell (Ireland Women).