Pakistan Women Defeat Ireland in ICC World Cup 2025 Qualifier Opener
Lahore, April 9 – Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team kicked off their ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Qualifier campaign with a thrilling 38-run victory over Ireland in a low-scoring yet action-packed match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
On a sweltering day with temperatures hitting 39°C, it was Pakistan’s bowling unit that stole the show. Diana Baig and Nashra Sandhu led from the front, picking up four and three wickets respectively to dismantle Ireland for 179 runs, successfully defending a modest total.
Diana Baig Stars With Ball, Wins Player of the Match
Diana Baig set the tone early by removing Ireland opener Sarah Forbes and returned later to clean up the tail, finishing with impressive figures of 4-35 in 9 overs. She was rightly awarded Player of the Match for her match-winning spell.
Speaking after the game, Diana said: “As a bowling unit, we had the belief that if we stuck to our plans and made them chase under pressure, we could force errors. This win is a great start, but we remain focused on the bigger goal.”
Nashra Sandhu Shines with Spin
Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu provided crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs, dismissing Irish captain Gaby Lewis, Amy Hunter, and Laura Delany just as they looked set to chase down the target.
The final wicket came via a smart run-out, with Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana tossing the ball to Nashra to end the innings and secure the win.
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Key Performances and Match Highlights
Ireland, despite a strong start at 95-1, faltered under pressure. Their top scorers, Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter, each made 44 but couldn’t convert their starts into match-winning knocks.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan were bowled out in the 49th over after a promising start. They were well-positioned at 153-3 before a middle-order collapse saw them finish with a below-par score.
Aliya Riaz top-scored for Pakistan with a fluent 52 off 58 balls, including four boundaries and a six. Sidra Amin contributed a patient 50 off 110 deliveries. For Ireland, Jane Maguire impressed with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 33 runs in her 10-over spell.
The match also marked the ODI debut of Gull Feroza, who has previously featured in Pakistan’s T20 setup.
Looking Ahead in the Qualifiers
With this win, Pakistan sits at the top of the table in the six-team ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier with a net run rate of 0.76. The tournament, featuring Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, Thailand, West Indies, and hosts Pakistan, is being played in Lahore from April 9 to 19 in a round-robin format.
Only the top two teams will qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, scheduled to take place later this year in India.
Hosting an ICC women’s event for the first time, Pakistan has made a strong start, having also won both warm-up matches against Thailand and West Indies. They now look ahead to their next clash against Scotland at the LCCA Ground on Friday.
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Extreme Weather a Factor
The extreme heat in Lahore could be a challenge for all six participating teams, with fitness and hydration likely to play a key role in team performance throughout the tournament.
Pakistan has a strong track record in the Qualifiers, having reached the Women’s World Cup every time they’ve entered this stage. With momentum on their side, they’ll aim to maintain their winning streak and secure their place in the main event.
