Sport

Ireland beat Pakistan to make Super Sixes at Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup

Alice Walsh’s 31 from 19 balls prove key as Ireland secured a 13-run victory in a rain-shortened game

Freya Sargent of Ireland celebrates with team-mate Abbi Harrison after Komal Khan of Pakistan is run out during the ICC Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup match at Johor Cricket Academy Oval in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Photograph: Matt King-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Freya Sargent of Ireland celebrates with team-mate Abbi Harrison after Komal Khan of Pakistan is run out during the ICC Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup match at Johor Cricket Academy Oval in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Photograph: Matt King-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Wed Jan 22 2025 - 14:36

Women’s U19 World Cup, Malaysia: Ireland 69-5 (9 ovs) (A Walsh 31; M Khalid 2-6), Pakistan 59-7 (9 ovs) (K Khan 12; E McGee 2-13). Ireland won by 13 runs (DLS method).

Ireland have qualified for the Super Sixes stage of the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia after victory over Pakistan in a rain-shortened game in Johor on Wednesday.

Ireland edged out Pakistan by 13 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, with Alice Walsh’s 31 from 19 balls the key innings of the game.

For a third consecutive time Niamh MacNulty called correctly at the toss and opted to bat in this must-win game for her side. Coming into this fixture, Ireland and Pakistan had both lost a match and had one abandoned due to rain. However, due to their superior net run rate, Pakistan would be the ones to progress to the next stages of the tournament with England and USA should this game not be completed.

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Ireland were immediately off to the perfect start with Walsh striking a boundary through the covers off the very first ball. Freya Sargent then combined to bolster this explosive start until her own dismissal in the fourth over.

Rain arrived a ball later and a long break with the covers on the pitch left the Ireland players wondering whether the game would be completed. A break in the showers eventually brought about a reduced game of nine overs per side, with a three-over powerplay and two overs per bowler.

Upon returning to the crease Walsh wrestled back momentum for her side after the long delay. With her dismissal in the seventh over Ireland struggled to find boundaries as freely as they had done before but managed to push hard with their running between the wickets.

A score of 69 for five from nine overs now looked formidable considering the knock-out nature of the game. This was then also adjusted by DLS due to the previous rain interruptions which meant Pakistan now needed 73 to win from their nine overs.

Ireland’s bowlers initially couldn’t find the early breakthrough they desperately needed but soon had their wish with the run out of Fatima Khan in the third over. A few balls later Sargent then bowled Zoofishan Ayyaz and now pressure was slowly building on the chasing side. Two more run outs in the next over then raised the heat.

At 34 for four, there was still time for a possible plot twist but Ellie McGee (two for 13), Lara McBride (one for 10) and Niamh McNulty (none for four) combined to close out a famous result and secure their involvement in the next stages of the tournament.