Hosts Pakistan clinched consecutive victories with a convincing six-wicket win over Scotland in the 4th game of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifiers 2025 in a rain-curtailed contest at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground.
West Indies led by skipper Hayley Matthews were up against Ireland led by skipper Gaby Lewis in the 5th match of the tournament. The game was reduced to a 33-overs-per-side contest, due to rain.
Chenille Henry, Stafanie Taylor, and Zaida James take West Indies to 181/6
Orla Prendergast got the big scalp of the opposition skipper Hayley Matthews in the 5th over of the innings after skipper Gaby Lewis won the toss and opted to field first at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Qiana Joseph was dismissed by Jane Maguire in the 6th over of the innings to provide the 2nd breakthrough for Ireland.
Stafanie Taylor joined Zaida James at the crease and the duo bailed their side out of trouble with a massive 87-run partnership for the 3rd wicket to take them closer to the 120-run mark. Jane Maguire returned and broke the ominous stand by sending Stafanie Taylor (46 off 56 balls) back to the pavilion to provide the much-needed 3rd breakthrough for her side in the 24th over of the innings. She fell just four runs short of her well-deserved half-century.
West Indies suffered a mini collapse as they lost their next three wickets for just 32 runs to find themselves in trouble at 148/6 in the 29th over of the innings. However, an invaluable cameo from Chinelle Henry (46* off 36 balls) propelled them closer to the 200-run mark with a vital unbeaten 33-run partnership for the 7th wicket. West Indies eventually ended up with a total of 181/6 in 33 overs, with Zaida James chipped in with a crucial innings of 36 (54 balls) with the bat for the West Indies.
Jane Maguire (7-1-35-3) was yet again the stand-out performer with the ball, with the ball for Ireland, while Cara Murray (6-0-35-1), Orla Prendergast (5-0-24-1), and Ava Canning (5-0-17-0) were impressive with the ball for Ireland.
Ireland fails to convert their starts, succumb to their 2nd consecutive defeat
Chasing a target of 182, the Ireland openers wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter and skipper Gaby Lewis got their side off to a positive start with an impressive 57-run opening partnership. Skipper Hayley Matthews got the better of her opposite number Gaby Lewis (17 off 29 balls) in the 11th over of the run chase to provide the first breakthrough for her side.
Ireland suffered a mini collapse as they lost their next three wickets for just 23 runs, finding themselves in trouble at 80/4 in the 17th over of the innings. Christina Coulter Reilly joined Laura Delany at the crease and the pair revived the run chase with a much-needed 42-run partnership for the 5th wicket, taking them past the 120-run mark.
Aaliyah Alleyne broke the stand, by sending Laura Delany (32 off 46 balls) back to the pavilion in the 26th over of the run chase, providing the crucial 5th breakthrough for her side. Ireland were eventually bundled out for 175, with four balls to spare, falling just 6 runs short of the target. Wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter (48 off 46 balls), Christina Coulter Reilly (26 off 29 balls), and Arlene Kelly (18 off 18 balls) were impressive with the bat for Ireland.
Skipper Hayley Matthews (6.2-1-24-4) was once again the stand-out performer with the ball for the West Indies. Karishma Ramharack (7-0-29-2), Aaliyah Alleyne (4-0-33-2), and Afy Fletcher (7-1-39-1) played their part with the ball for the West Indies.
Skipper Hayley Matthews was awarded the Player of the Match for another all-round performance, scoring 23 (18 balls) with the bat, and returning with match figures of 6.2-1-24-4 with the ball for her side. She played a crucial role in helping her side get the first win of the competition.
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