Islamabad, Aug 7, 2025: In the opening clash of the series, Ireland Women vs Pakistan Women, the host team won by 11 runs on Wednesday at Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin.
Captain Fatima Sana starred with the ball for the visitors, claiming her career-best 4 wickets for 26 runs as Pakistan bowled out Ireland for 142. Despite the strong bowling effort, the Pakistani side couldn’t chase down the target and finished at 131 runs.
Ireland’s Orla Prendergast was named Player of the Match for her all-round show — scoring 26 runs and bagging three wickets.
Sadia Iqbal, ranked the top T20I bowler globally, started with a boundary off her first ball. Fatima Sana provided the breakthrough, clean bowling Irish skipper Gaby Lewis. Amy Hunter led Ireland’s early charge with 37 runs, before being bowled by Nashra Sandhu. Leah Paul added a brisk 28, while Rameen Shamim and Diana Baig contributed with crucial breakthroughs as Ireland kept losing wickets.
Pakistan’s response got off to a rough beginning. Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza both departed early, while Sidra Amin and Aliya Riaz were dismissed cheaply after showing brief promise. By the 9th over, Pakistan were reeling at 42-4.
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Young Eyman Fatima and Natalia Pervaiz tried to rebuild, but Eyman’s unfortunate runout stalled momentum. Fatima Sana’s quick boundary was followed by a controversial dismissal, with no review system in place. Natalia’s 34-run stand with Rameen Shamim gave slight hope, but the team fell short in the end.
With the Ireland Women vs Pakistan Women series now underway, both teams have won two series each in the past, though Pakistan holds a dominant 15-4 head-to-head record. This series is crucial for Pakistan ahead of a packed calendar, including the ICC Women’s World Cup starting in late September.
