Laura Delany admitted Ireland had been outplayed by Pakistan in all three games in the Women’s Championship series in Lahore but there was a significant improvement from the visitors yesterday in their five wickets defeat.

 

Indeed, Ireland had much the better of the first 40 overs of their innings and the first 10 overs of the Pakistan reply but, unfortunately, the game was lost in the other 47 overs of the match.

 

From 202 for four, Ireland lost their last six wickets for 23 runs and although Orla Prendergast and Jane Maguire both struck with the new ball, dismissing the openers who had scored 407 runs in the first two games, to reduce their hosts to 28 for two, a third wicket stand of 124 put Pakistan in control, which they never relinquished.

 

The positives for Ireland, which Delany hopes they can take into the three-match T20 series starting on Saturday, were the opening partnership of 84 between Leah Paul, who went to her third ODI half-century, and Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter’s sparkling 41 from just 43 balls, with seven fours, which gave Ireland the momentum.

 

However, the dismissal of Eimear Richardson, who hit four fours, was followed by a tame collapse with only Arlene Kelly, batting too low at number nine, managing a boundary in the last eight overs.

The Ireland bowling was too inconsistent in line and length to keep Pakistan in check with Prendergast, still unable to return for a second spell, a big miss.  

 

Scores: Ireland Women 225 (49.5 overs, L Paul 65, A Hunter 41, G Lewis 39, E Richardson 28, L Delany 18; Fatima 5-34) Pakistan Women 226-5 (47.1 overs, Sadaf Shamas 72, Bismah Maroof 57; E Richardson 2-45, R Delaney 1-9, O Prendergast 1-11, J Maguire 1-25). Pakistan won by 5 wickets