Womens T20 World Cup: Ireland end 12-year winless run with victory over West Indies

Ireland ended its 12-year winless run at the Womens T20 World Cup by beating West Indies by six wickets. Orla Prendergast hit 63 to lead a chase of 129, with Rebecca Stokell and Louise Little finishing the job. The result also kept defending champion New Zealand in contention for the semifinals.

Ireland recorded a first-ever win at the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup, ending a long losing run. Ireland beat the West Indies by six wickets on Saturday, with 11 balls to spare. The result stopped a 0-21 streak across five tournaments over 12 years. Ireland finished on 129-4 after chasing 129.

The defeat changed the semi-final picture for the West Indies and New Zealand. The West Indies would have reached the last four with a victory. Instead, defending champion New Zealand stayed alive. New Zealand will qualify by beating England later on Saturday. If England win, the West Indies progress instead.

Ireland Women’s Twenty20 World Cup win ends 12-year streak

Ireland’s chase was driven by Orla Prendergast, who made 63 from 44 balls. Prendergast fell with 21 runs still needed, but the work was done. Rebecca Stokell and Louise Little completed the chase. Little struck the winning boundary over mid-on to seal 129-4.

"Winning just means so much,\" Prendergast said. \"We have had the belief throughout but it had not come together just yet. Just so much relief to have that win and so much happiness.\"

The Irish bowlers set up the win by limiting the West Indies to 128-7 on a sticky pitch. Cara Murray and Aimee Maguire kept control through the middle overs. West Indies captain Hayley Matthews scored 22, while Deandra Dottin added 21. Chinelle Henry finished with a brisk 27 not out.

Ireland also benefited despite several lapses in the field. Irish misfields handed the West Indies at least three boundaries. Even with those extras, the West Indies struggled for fluency. Ireland’s tighter spells kept the total within reach. The target did not rise beyond 129.

Prendergast entered in the fifth over to join opener Amy Hunter. Prendergast moved ahead of Hunter’s score by the ninth over. Hunter rotated the strike to keep Prendergast facing more deliveries. The pair added 62 for the second wicket. That stand shaped the chase early.

Prendergast reached a second World Cup fifty from 36 balls. Prendergast was first given out on 56, then overturned the decision on review. Prendergast was later caught at deep square leg in the 16th over. Ireland still needed 21, but the lower order stayed calm.

Women’s Twenty20 World Cup: Pakistan beat Netherlands in winless clash

In another match between winless teams, Pakistan beat the Netherlands by 37 runs. The Netherlands, playing on debut, targeted this game for a first win. The Dutch bowlers restricted Pakistan to 126-6. Opener Gull Feroza prevented a lower total. Feroza was dropped on 10 and made it count.

Feroza carried the bat for 63 not out from 52 balls, with nine boundaries. It was Feroza’s first T20 World Cup fifty. Feroza shared a 79-run stand with Ayesha Zafar, who scored 32. Iris Zwilling took 2-19, while Heather Siegers had 1-28. Hannah Landheer returned 1-19.

Pakistan’s bowling then decided the match by dismissing the Netherlands for 89 in 18 overs. Heather Siegers started brightly for the Dutch in the chase. After the powerplay, Nashra Sandhu, Tuba Hassan and Zafar slowed scoring. Zafar claimed a T20 career-best 3-13 to squeeze the chase.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana finished the innings with three wickets in the last over. All three batters were bowled during the 18th over. Sana also removed Dutch captain and top-scorer Babette de Leede for 30. The weekend also stayed memorable for Ireland, after Ireland’s men beat India in a T20 in Belfast.

With inputs from PTI