Report By Saher Ilsa .
Dublin, August 9 : Ireland Women clinched a thrilling four-wicket victory over Pakistan Women in the second T20 International, with the match decided on the final ball. The win gave Ireland an unassailable lead in the three-match series, having already won the first game by 11 runs. The third and final T20I will be played on Sunday.
On Friday, Pakistan won the toss for the second time in the series and opted to bat first, posting 168 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Ireland reached the target in 20 overs for the loss of six wickets.
For Pakistan, Shawaal Zulfiqar scored 33 runs with six boundaries, sharing an opening stand of 62 with Muneeba Ali, who made 27 runs with one six and three fours. Iram Fatima (23 with a six and two fours), captain Fatima Sana (23 with one four and one six), and Natalia Pervaiz (31 with five fours) also contributed valuable runs. Ireland’s Lara McBride and Cara Murray claimed two wickets each, conceding 27 and 33 runs respectively.
Ireland’s chase got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets for 35 runs. Amy Hunter was run out for 6, while off-spinner Ramin Shamim struck twice in consecutive deliveries to remove captain Gaby Lewis (21) and Leah Paul (0).
Orla Prendergast and Laura Delany then rebuilt the innings with a 76-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Prendergast scored her eighth T20I fifty, making 51 off four fours and two sixes before becoming Shamim’s third victim. Delany scored 42 runs with five boundaries and added 49 for the fifth wicket with Rebecca Stokell.
Eva Canning was dismissed for 4 by Sadia Iqbal, but with one ball left and four needed, Jane Maguire sealed victory by hitting Sadia for six. Stokell remained unbeaten on 34 with four boundaries.
For Pakistan, Ramin Shamim took 3 wickets for 36 runs.