Ireland Women are through to the T20 World Cup finals in South Africa in February, their first global event since West Indies in 2018.

It was a nerve-racking four-runs victory over Zimbabwe in yesterday’s qualifying semi-final in Abu Dhabi that clinched their place but the Africans will be regretting a series of missed chances as Ireland, after being put into bat, reached 137 for six.

Zimbabwe were always behind the run-rate and when Cara Murray conceded just four runs off the 16th over, which included the big wicket of captain Mary-Anne Musonda for 31, they needed 35 from the last four overs.

But they kept fighting and when Ireland skipper Laura Delany bowled the last ball, it was still game on with Zimbabwe needing six to win. Delany stood up to the test and a full ball was only scrambled for a single.

Opening bowler Jane Maguire was named player of the match after taking the first two wickets to immediately put Zimbabwe under pressure but the game-changing innings was played by Rebecca Stokell who hit 20 off the 18th over, including two sixes, and finished 26 not out off 12 balls.

Delany, in her post-match interview, also singled out the the batting of her number six, who came to the middle at the end of the 16th over with only 96 on the board.

“Rebecca looked to be batting on a different wicket and made it look so easy,” said the skipper. “We’re thrilled to get over the line and qualify for the World Cup and as a group we should be really proud.

“Our standards slipped today but lot of hard work has gone into today’s performance. We knew it was going to be tough but we will take the confidence from this game.”

All the top six Ireland batters got into double figures, Eimear Richardson with the help of one of three dropped catches, but none could make a serious impact.

Gaby Lewis hit a six and was out next ball, Amy Hunter, dropped on 10, came recklessly down the wicket and was stumped and Delany was also missed, just two balls before losing her wicket.

Apart from that 18th over, the Zimbabwe bowlers did everything that was asked of them and it was up to the Ireland bowlers to match them if they were to claim the first of the final two places in South Africa, alongside the top eight nations. They did just enough.

Maguire was the comfortably the most economical and she should have had a wicket in her first over but a simple chance went down. Fortunately it cost only seven runs and with Richardson and Arlene Kelly also bowling tightly, Zimbabwe were 25 for two at the end of the powerplay.

Opener Sharne Mayers, however, led the fightback, putting on 50 for the third wicket at better than a run-ball, with Musonda before Kelly ended the stand with the second ball of her second spell.

Another difficult chance went down, which cost 17 runs and racked up the tension, but in the end Delany and Ireland held their nerve.

Bangladesh completed the World Cup line-up when they beat Thailand in the second semi-final by 11 runs.