Pakistan’s women’s cricket team earned a consolation victory over Ireland on Sunday in the final Twenty20 International of the series, thanks to a spectacular century by player of the match Muneeba Ali.
Despite the series loss by 2-1 to Ireland, Muneeba’s outstanding performance stood out as she helped her team chase down a target of 156 runs with ease.
The series had seen a tough start for the Green Shirts, as Ireland won the first two T20Is—the first by 11 runs and the second by four wickets. Playing at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin, Ireland set a competitive total of 155 for 4 in their innings, largely driven by allrounder Orla Prendergast’s unbeaten 64 runs off 46 balls. Irish wicketkeeper Amy Hunter and captain Gaby Lewis contributed 29 and 36 runs respectively, supporting their team’s solid batting effort.
In response, Pakistan’s chase was spearheaded by Muneeba Ali, who started aggressively by hitting three consecutive boundaries off Prendergast’s bowling, the player of the match in the opening game and winner of the player of the series award. One of the most memorable moments was when Muneeba struck a powerful shot over square-leg off Arlene Kelly in the fifth over, signaling her intent and dominance at the crease.
The southpaw maintained a steady pace throughout the innings, guiding Pakistan to the 50-run mark within 5.1 overs, reaching her half-century off just 29 balls. She then continued to build on the partnership with Aliya Riaz, with the duo adding an unbeaten 101 runs that sealed the victory with 14 balls to spare. Muneeba reached her second T20 international century with a single in the 18th over, achieving the milestone in 68 deliveries.
Prior to this series, Pakistan’s team had invested in extensive preparation, including a 17-day skills camp and a five-day pre-tour camp at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi. Ireland, buoyed by their recent dominant performances against Zimbabwe in both T20 and ODI formats, entered the series confident but faced resilient opposition in the final match.
Looking ahead, Pakistan will face South Africa in a three-match series in Lahore from September 16 to 22 before participating in the ICC Women’s World Cup.
Due to ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistan’s World Cup matches will be played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model, with their highly anticipated clash against India scheduled for October 5.
The World Cup campaign will also include matches against defending champions Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, and co-host Sri Lanka as Pakistan aims to make a strong impact on the global stage.
