The ongoing Ireland Tri-Nation Series 2026 in Dublin has already dished out some highly competitive cricket, leaving both sides with plenty to think about ahead of this clash. Ireland had a tough introduction to the tournament, struggling to put up a massive total despite a fighting, gritty 25 from Orla Prendergast. Their bowlers did show a lot of spirit, particularly Ava Canning, who bowled a beautifully tight spell of 4 overs for just 16 runs while picking up two wickets, but it wasn’t quite enough to seal a win. Pakistan, on the other hand, had a mixed outing where their batting showed serious intent, spearheaded by Aliya Riaz’s aggressive 37 off 28 balls. While their bowlers like Rameen Shamim proved to be genuine wicket-taking threats by breaking crucial partnerships, they will be looking to tighten up their execution after leaking a few too many runs in the middle overs.
Squads:
Ireland Women’s Cricket Team
Amy Hunter, Alana Dalzell, Rebecca Stokell, Orla Prendergast, Leah Paul, Alice Tector, Louise Little, Ava Canning, Arlene Kelly, Aimee Maguire, Cara Murray, Georgina Dempsey, Coulter Reilly, Lara McBride
Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team
Muneeba Ali, Gull Feroza, Saira Jabeen, Ayesha Zafar, Rameen Shamim, Iram Javed, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Natalia Pervaiz, Tuba Hassan, Eyman Fatima, Tasmia Rubab
Players to watch out:
Aliya Riaz
Aliya Riaz has shown immense intent right from the get-go in this tri-series, making a solid impact for Pakistan in her lone outing so far. She anchored the middle order with a brisk 37 off 28 deliveries, showcasing her ability to find the ropes by dispatching 8 boundaries during her stay at the crease. Operating at a healthy strike rate of 132.14, she has firmly established herself as a vital cog in Pakistan’s batting unit as they look to build momentum moving forward.
Orla Prendergast
Orla Prendergast put up a fighting effort for Ireland in her sole appearance, showing glimpses of her clean striking ability against a disciplined bowling attack. She chipped in with a steady 25 off 22 balls, hitting a couple of fours and clearing the ropes once to finish with a strike rate of 113.63. While she couldn’t quite convert her start into a massive match-winning score, her composure under pressure remains a massive positive for the hosts.
Ava Canning
Ava Canning made an immediate splash with the ball for Ireland, turning in an incredibly disciplined and impactful performance in her single appearance. She ran through her full quota of 4 overs with absolute precision, conceding a meager 16 runs while snaring 2 crucial wickets to keep the opposition in check. Stifling the batters with a brilliant economy rate of just 4.00 and a striking average of 8.00, she has quickly set the standard for the Irish bowling department.
Rameen Shamim
Rameen Shamim proved to be a genuine wicket-taking threat for Pakistan during her 4-over spell in her first match of the tournament. While she did give away 27 runs at an economy rate of 6.75, she constantly targeted the stumps and reaped the rewards by taking 2 vital wickets. Maintaining a strike rate of 12.00, her knack for breaking partnerships at crucial junctures makes her a weapon her captain will heavily rely on as the series progresses.
Pitch:
The pitch at the Castle Avenue Cricket Ground in Clontarf, Dublin, is generally known as a very good surface for batting, routinely producing high-scoring encounters. Batters can confidently trust the even bounce across the wicket, allowing for clean stroke play and large individual scores, as evidenced by historic totals close to 200 in short-form formats.
Weather:
The weather will bring a high temperature of 19°C and a low of 13°C. The day-time condition is mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of precipitation, shifting to light rain during the night with a 45% chance of precipitation.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Amy Hunter, Orla Prendergast, Leah Paul, Ava Canning, Arlene Kelly, Ayesha Zafar, Rameen Shamim, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Nashra, Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal
Match Details:
Date – May 31, 2026
Time – 8:30 PM IST
Venue – Castle Avenue, Dublin
Broadcast – T.B.C.
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