The ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 is set to begin with Ireland Women taking on Sri Lanka Women in the 1st Match, Group A at the Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground, Ajman, on Thursday, November 12, 2026. The match will start at 10:30 AM IST and will open the tournament. Both teams will be looking to begin their campaign with a win and make a positive start to the competition. With the first game of the tournament ahead, Ireland and Sri Lanka will be keen to put in a strong performance from the beginning.
Ireland Women and Sri Lanka Women arrive at the tournament with different results from their last five matches. Ireland have won one match and lost four, while Sri Lanka have recorded three wins and two losses in the same period. Their most recent meeting took place on June 23, 2026, when Sri Lanka Women won by nine wickets with 27 balls remaining. Ireland will now have an opportunity to start this tournament on a different note, while Sri Lanka will look to continue the form they have shown in their recent games. The opening match will therefore be an important start for both sides.
Squads:
Ireland Women’s Cricket Team
Gaby Lewis (C), Amy Hunter (VC), Zara Craig, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Abbi Harrison, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Jane Maguire, Lara Maritz, Lara McBride, Kia McCartney, Cara Murray
Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team
Harshitha Samarawickrama (C), Kavisha Dilhari (VC), Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sanjana Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara, Hasini Perera, Chamudi Praboda, Sathya Sandeepani, Rashmika Sewwandi, Nilakshika Silva, Chethana Vimukthi
Players to watch out:
Amy Hunter
Amy Hunter will be one of the players Ireland will depend on with the bat in their opening match. She has scored 200 runs in nine matches, with an average of 22.22 and a strike rate of 112.99. Her ability to score regularly can give Ireland a stable start at the top of the order. Hunter is also the team’s vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter, which gives her an important role in the side. Ireland will hope she can settle quickly and make a useful contribution in the first game of the tournament.
Gaby Lewis
Gaby Lewis will also have an important part to play for Ireland in the tournament opener. She has made 182 runs in seven matches, averaging 26.00, with a strike rate of 100.00. Her experience will be useful for Ireland as they begin their campaign against Sri Lanka. Lewis will also lead the side as captain, adding another responsibility to her role in the match. Ireland will want her to provide a steady start and help the team build a strong batting effort.
Harshitha Samarawickrama
Harshitha Samarawickrama will be one of Sri Lanka’s main batters to watch in the opening contest. She has scored 180 runs in 10 matches, with an average of 30.00 and a strike rate of 119.20. She has been able to score at a good pace while also making useful contributions with the bat. Samarawickrama will also captain Sri Lanka in their first match of the tournament. Her batting and leadership will both be important as Sri Lanka look to begin their campaign with a win.
Kavisha Dilhari
Kavisha Dilhari is another important player for Sri Lanka because of her ability to contribute with both bat and ball. She has scored 130 runs in 10 matches, averaging 21.67 and striking at 116.07. With the ball, she has taken 9 wickets in 10 matches, with an economy rate of 6.27 and a bowling strike rate of 22.00. Her all-round contribution gives Sri Lanka another useful option during different stages of the match. Dilhari could therefore have a role in both innings when Sri Lanka begin their tournament against Ireland.
Pitch:
The Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground, Ajman has a well-rolled surface that generally offers good conditions for batting, while disciplined bowlers can also find some help. The pitch usually provides true bounce, which allows batters to play their shots with confidence. Fast bowlers can get some assistance early on from the hard surface through slight seam movement and extra carry. Spinners may come into the game more as the pitch wears and starts offering turn and sharper bounce.
Weather:
The conditions are expected to be mostly cloudy, with the temperature around 28°Cduring the match. The chance of rain is around 10%, while humidity is expected to stay close to 56%. A westward breeze of around 15 mph is also expected during the day. The temperature is likely to reach a daily high of around 29°C around midday, while the late-night and early-morning low is expected to be around 24°C.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Amy Hunter, Gaby Lewis, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Laura Delany, Alana Dalzell, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Sugandika Kumari, Vishmi Gunaratne, Sathya Sandeepani
Match Details:
Date – November 12, 2026
Time – 10:30 AM IST
Venue – Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground, Ajman
Broadcast – The match will be live-streamed on FanCode App & Website and ICC.tv.
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