Lahore, Apr 9 (UNI) Ireland lost nine wickets for only 83 runs as they collapsed from a strong position to suffer a 38-run defeat against hosts Pakistan in their opening Women’s World Cup qualifier here.
The Irish restricted Pakistan to only 217 from 49 overs in Lahore with Jane Maguire taking three wickets as Aliya Riaz and Sidra Ameen hit 52 and 51 for the hosts.
In their reply, Ireland reached 96-1 as captain Gaby Lewis (44) and Amy Hunter (44) produced a 69-run partnership but their departures within four overs turned the match in Pakistan’s favour.
Orla Prendergast batted for nearly 17 overs as she hit 37 but wickets fell regularly at the other end as home bowlers Diana Baig and Nashra Sandhu did most of the damage.
Baig produced bowling figures of 4-35 with Sandhu’s three wickets including the vital dismissals of Lewis, Hunter and Laura Delany for a duck as Ireland slipped from 96-1 to 119-4 in 6.2 overs, the BBC reported.
Ireland briefly rallied as Prendergast and Leah Paul put on 34 for the fifth wicket but Paul’s departure after being trapped lbw by Sadia Iqbal effectively ended Irish resistance they were only able to add a further 24 runs.
The Irish will be back in action on Friday against West Indies at the same Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore before further contests against Bangladesh, Thailand and Scotland.
Only the two top teams in the round-robin qualifier will secure places at the World Cup in India in September.
