Ireland's women's cricketers have pulled off a massive upset by beating Pakistan in Lahore in the third and final T20 international by 34 runs, recording their first overseas series victory on a 2-1 scoreline.
Ireland batted first and made 167 for four, with Gaby Lewis top scoring on 71 off just 46 deliveries - including 12 boundaries - and Amy Hunter reaching 40
In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for 133, with captain Laura Delaney and Arlene Kelly both taking three wickets.
It is also the first time that a men or women's Irish cricket team has won a series in the subcontinent.
Their landmark success was built around a 110-run opening stand between Hunter (40) and Lewis (71), with the duo laying the foundations for a first-innings total of 167 for four.
Lewis struck 11 fours and one six in her ninth T20 half-century, with Hunter playing the perfect foil and Orla Prendergast adding 37 from number three.
The home side were bowled out for 133 with seven balls of the reply unused, as Javeria Khan's 50 at the top of the order went unsupported.
Jane Maguire made an early breakthrough with the new ball and returned to end Khan's resistance, as Kelly and Delany scooped up three cheap wickets apiece to shut things down.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Hunter and Lewis vindicated captain Delany's decision straight away, putting on a huge partnership, and Ireland’s third highest T20I opening partnership.
Four boundaries off the first three overs signalled Ireland’s intent right from the start, Lewis the main aggressor, bludgeoning a slog-sweep off Nida Dar over the rope for the first six of the match. She followed up with a four off the last ball of Dar’s over before smashing two more boundaries off the fourth.
Hunter took a backseat early in her innings to let Lewis occupy centre stage. After they smashed 56 runs from the powerplay, Lewis reached her 50 in style, reverse sweeping a full ball from Fatima Sana through third man for four, bringing up her ninth T20I half-century off 26 balls.
With the hundred up for Ireland in the 12th over, a big total looked on the cards. Hunter played a good supporting innings before she was bowled by Nashra Sandhu for a 35-ball 40, bringing Orla Prendergast to the crease with licence to swing. She attacked straight away, hitting a six off her second ball over long-on.
Lewis was well set, continuing to hit boundaries, and advancing past 70 before she was caught at mid-on by Aliya Riaz, unable to get enough height on the ball from Sana to clear the fielder. She finished her innings on 71 off 46 with 12 boundaries.
This just happened! ⬇️
— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) November 16, 2022
Remarkable achievement. Congratulations to all. 👏👏 https://t.co/JPmPPeWGrP
Despite the loss of Lewis and then of Eimear Richardson, Prendergast continued to push Ireland up towards 170. She crunched ten off the final over to set Pakistan 168 to win and send Ireland into the break full of confidence. Pakistan would have to pull off their highest-ever T20I chase to stop Ireland from claiming a historic win.
A tight start from the bowlers made it an even tougher task with Jane Maguire and Prendergast only conceding eight off the first two overs before Maguire made the breakthrough, dismissing Sidra Ameen in the third over.
Pakistan looked to take the chase deep, accumulating off the rest of the powerplay to take their total to 41. A big breakthrough for Ireland came in the seventh over, however, Arlene Kelly delivering a clever, slower ball to outsmart Muneeba Ali.
With some nerves flying around for Ireland, the final two overs before the drinks break went for 25 as Pakistan continued to keep themselves in the run chase. Javeria Khan was the key, reaching fifty off 36 balls before Maguire took the crucial wicket to steady Irish hearts. Khan got an inside edge on a ball she was looking to cut, her stumps disturbed. The wicket brought the dangerous Dar to the crease, with Pakistan’s chase largely resting on her wicket.
A four and a six by Dar from Cara Murray showed the match was still very much in the balance with Pakistan needing another 80 runs from the last eight, a target possible with Bismah Maroof and Dar at the crease. But a run out from Richardson to dismiss Maroof opened the floodgates for Ireland, and a steady flow of wickets followed.
Two wickets in each of the last two overs from Kelly and Delany respectively, both finishing with three wickets apiece, sealed a comfortable win by 34 runs for the Irish.
