Ireland’s Orla Prendergast delivered a match-winning all-round performance, scoring 29 runs and picking up three wickets to lead Ireland to an 11-run win over Pakistan in the opening T20I of the three-match series at Clontarf Cricket Club on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 143, Pakistan faltered in their pursuit and managed only 131 for 9 in 20 overs, falling short despite a promising effort from the middle order.
Natalia Pervaiz top-scored for the visitors with a brisk 39 off 23 balls, while Rameen Shamim chipped in with a 20-ball 27, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to offer sustained resistance.
Besides them, top-order batter Sidra Amin (15), Aliya Riaz and skipper Fatima Sana, 14 each, could amass double figures as the rest were outclassed by a disciplined bowling performance by Ireland.
Prendergast was the pick of the bowlers for Ireland, taking three wickets for just 28 runs, followed by Jane Maguire with two, while Ava Canning, Cara Murray and Lara McBride made one scalp apiece.
Put into bat first, Ireland’s batting unit unfolded on a modest 142 in 19.4 overs.
The home side got off to a shaky start to their innings as their captain Gaby Lewis (one) was cleaned up by Pakistan counterpart Sana in the third over with just 18 runs on the board.
