Pakistan Women’s cricket team clinched a dominant 8-wicket victory over Ireland Women in the third T20 International played on Sunday, with opener Muneeba Ali smashing a brilliant century to lead her side to victory.
Ireland Women won the toss and opted to bat first, posting 155 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Captain Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter gave their team a solid start, adding 52 runs for the first wicket. Lewis scored 36 runs before being dismissed by Rameen Shamim, while Hunter made 29 runs and fell to Waheeda Akhtar with the total at 86. The third wicket fell at 121 when Sadia Iqbal removed Leigh Paul for 11. In the final over, Fatima Sana dismissed Rebecca Stokell for 5, but three boundaries in that over lifted Ireland’s total to 155. Orla Prendergast remained unbeaten on 64, marking her ninth T20I half-century.
Chasing the target, Pakistan Women got off to a flying start as Muneeba Ali struck three consecutive boundaries off the first three balls of the innings. She played a match-winning knock of 100 not out, featuring 14 fours and a six — her second century in T20 internationals. Shawal Zulfiqar (3) and Natalia Pervaiz (9) were the only batters to be dismissed, after which Muneeba and Aliya Riaz put on an unbroken 101-run stand for the third wicket. Aliya scored 39 not out, including five boundaries.
Despite this win, Ireland Women claimed the three-match series 2-1, having won the first match by 11 runs and the second by 4 wickets.
