Ireland Women beat Pakistan by seven wickets in their third game in the T20 International Tri-Series in Clontarf, aided by half centuries from Amy Hunter and Rebecca Stokell.
Having lost to the West Indies in the opening match, Ireland chased down 177 for victory with balls to spare. It was their biggest ever run chase victory in international T20.
Pakistan won the toss making 176 for 6 off their 20 overs.
Ireland should have had an early wicket. Opener Gull Feroza was on ten and flashed at a ball outside the off stump straight to Cara Murray at slip, but Ireland's fielding woes continued as Murray dropped what should have been a routine catch.
Gull made a brisk 32 from 15 deliveries before she was caught at mid-off by Arlene Kelly from the bowling of Ava Canning, with Pakistan 44 for 1 in the fifth over.
Ireland dropped two more catches before they got rid of Ayesha Zafar for six as captain Orla Prendergast showed her experience to take a dropping ball at mid-off and steady her side.
The visitors were 57 for 2 and began to plunder the Irish attack, as opener Muneeba Ali and Saira Jabeen took the score to 145 in the 16th over.
Ali made a fine 65 off 41 deliveries before being caught on the boundary by Stokell to give Alana Delzell her first wicket.
Saira Jabeen (36), Pakistan captain Fatima Sana Khan (21) Aliya Riaz (4) and Iram Javed (1 not out) took Pakistan to 176 for 6 off their 20 overs
Ireland started well in reply with Amy Hunter and Delzell making 44 for the first wicket which was well above the required run rate before Delzell perished on eight in the fifth over.
Hunter went onto make a fine 56 off 43 balls faced, the 20-year-old's sixth international T20 half century before she was caught on the long off boundary in the 12th over with Ireland on 95 for 2 at that point.
Stokell and captain Prendergast put together a 50-run partnership for the third wicket with Stokell making her first 50 for Ireland off 37 balls faced in the 17th over.
Prendergast then blitzed the Pakistan attack making 33 off just 17 balls to put Ireland in sight of victory with Stokell unbeaten on 60 at the end. Leah Paul was 4 not out at the end of the innings.
Ireland's next game is against the unbeaten West Indies on Monday (weather permitting) also in Clontarf with a 4pm start at Castle Avenue.
