Ireland Women delivered a spectacular performance at Castle Avenue, defeating Pakistan Women by four wickets in a high-scoring second T20I. This nail-biting victory not only showcased Ireland’s growing prowess in the shortest format but also sealed the three-match series 2-0 with one game remaining, much to the delight of the home crowd. The match was a testament to competitive cricket, featuring impressive batting displays from both sides and a dramatic finish.
Pakistan sets a formidable total
After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first, aiming to post a commanding total. Their innings was a collective effort, with several batters making significant contributions to reach a formidable 168 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. The opening pair of Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar provided a solid foundation. Muneeba Ali scored a quick 27 runs off 22 balls, hitting 3 fours and a six, setting an aggressive tone early on. Shawaal Zulfiqar followed up with a composed 33 runs off 27 deliveries, finding the boundary six times.
As the innings progressed, the middle order capitalized on the strong start. Eyman Fatima added a brisk 23 off 16 balls, while Natalia Pervaiz accelerated the scoring rate significantly with a rapid 31 runs from just 17 balls, including 5 fours. Towards the end, Sana Fatima chipped in with a vital 23 runs from 16 deliveries, ensuring Pakistan finished with a competitive total.
For Ireland, the bowling effort was challenging against Pakistan’s aggressive batters. However, the spin duo of Cara Murray and Lara McBride stood out, each picking up 2 crucial wickets while managing to keep a check on the scoring rate in phases. Orla Prendergast also contributed with a wicket, but overall, it was a tough day for the Irish bowlers, with Jane Maguire, Ava Canning, and Arlene Kelly going wicketless.
Ireland’s resilient chase and Rebecca Stokell’s match-winning knock
Chasing a challenging target of 169, Ireland demonstrated remarkable composure and power-hitting, particularly in the death overs. The innings started with Gaby Lewis contributing 21 runs off 22 balls, providing a stable opening. However, it was the in-form Orla Prendergast who truly set the tone for the chase with an exceptional half-century. She scored 51 runs off just 34 deliveries, showcasing her ability to combine aggression with calculated strokes, hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes.
Despite losing Leah Paul cheaply and skipper Laura Delany playing a solid knock of 42 runs off 34 balls, Ireland found themselves in a tight spot in the final few overs, needing a significant number of runs. This was when Rebecca Stokell stepped up to deliver a sensational, match-winning performance. Coming in under immense pressure, Stokell unleashed a flurry of boundaries, smashing an unbeaten 34 runs from a mere 16 balls, including 4 fours. Her blistering innings completely changed the complexion of the game, taking the momentum away from Pakistan.
The dramatic conclusion saw Jane Maguire hit a six off the final ball of the match, sealing the victory for Ireland with four wickets in hand. For Pakistan, Rameen Shamim was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 36 runs. However, despite efforts from Sana Fatima and Sadia Iqbal, who picked up a wicket each, the rest of the bowling attack struggled to contain Ireland’s charge, especially towards the end.
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Stokell’s fearless and impactful batting earned her the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
Rebecca Stokell delivered a powerful innings that secured win for Ireland in the 2nd T20I #women #cricket #IREvsPAK #IrelandCricketTeam pic.twitter.com/N3bfsdCjJf
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) August 9, 2025
This victory not only secures the series for Ireland but also highlights their growing confidence and ability to perform under pressure against strong international opposition. Both teams will now look forward to the third and final T20I, which will be played on Sunday, August 10, at the same venue.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
