ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women Open With Comfortable Victory Over UAE

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier commenced in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Sri Lanka and Ireland emerged victorious in the opening matches held at Tolerance Oval and Zayed Cricket Stadium, respectively.

Sri Lanka defeated Thailand, while Ireland triumphed over the hosts, United Arab Emirates (UAE), with both teams securing convincing wins. Eimear Richardson showcased an outstanding all-round performance for Ireland at Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers delivered an exceptional performance, restricting Thailand to just 55 runs at Tolerance Oval. In the match between Ireland and UAE, Esha Oza’s aggressive start for UAE was countered by Alana Dalzell, who ultimately claimed her wicket in the second over. Despite a solid partnership between Theertha Satish and Khushi Sharma, UAE’s innings collapsed rapidly, going from 64/1 to 77/7 within five overs, as Arlene Kelly, Cara Murray, and Richardson contributed to Ireland’s success.

Despite a promising start, UAE’s lower order struggled, finishing at 105/9 in 20 overs. Kelly and Richardson stood out among Ireland’s bowlers, each claiming two wickets. In response, Ireland’s opening pair of Amy Hunter and Gaby Lewis made a brisk start, adding 52 runs in the Powerplay. Although Lewis departed after the sixth over, Oza’s consecutive dismissals of Laura Delany and Rebecca Stokell caused Ireland to stumble to 68/4.

However, Orla Prendergast, supported by Richardson, stabilized Ireland’s innings. The duo remained unbeaten, securing victory with over three overs to spare. The final scoreboard read: Ireland defeated UAE by six wickets.

Score Board:
UAE: 105 for 9 in 20 overs (Khushi Sharma 24, Theertha Satish 22; Arlene Kelly 2-12, Eimear Richardson 2-15)
Ireland: 106 for 4 in 16.1 overs (Gaby Lewis 27, Amy Hunter 25, Eimear Richardson 22*; Esha Oza 3-13)

Player of the match: Eimear Richardson