Pakistan Women Beat Ireland in ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Qualifiers Opener
Lahore, April 9 – Pakistan women beat Ireland by 38 runs in a gripping, low-scoring contest to kick off their ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Qualifiers campaign in style at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
The win puts Pakistan at the top of the points table, and it also marked a strong start for the hosts, who are aiming to qualify for the World Cup to be held later this year in India.
🌟 Match Summary – Pakistan vs Ireland (1st ODI)
| 🏟️ Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
|---|---|
| 📅 Date | Wednesday, April 9, 2025 |
| 🏆 Result | Pakistan Women won by 38 runs |
| 🏅 Player of the Match | Diana Baig (4 wickets) |
💥 Key Highlights – Pakistan Women Beat Ireland
🎯 Bowling Brilliance by Diana & Nashra
Pakistan’s bowlers were in fiery form:
- Diana Baig: 4 wickets – dismissed opener Sarah Forbes and returned to clean up the tail.
- Nashra Sandhu: 3 wickets – claimed the key scalps of Gaby Lewis, Amy Hunter, and Laura Delany.
- Final wicket: A smart run-out by skipper Fatima Sana, ending Ireland’s innings at 179.
“We stuck to our plan and supported each other with the ball,” said Diana Baig post-match.
🔥 Top Scorers – Pakistan Batting
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aliya Riaz | 52 | 58 | 4 | 1 |
| Sidra Amin | 50 | 110 | 3 | 0 |
Pakistan were 153/3 at one stage but were bowled out before the final over, ending with a defendable total.
🎯 Ireland’s Resistance Falls Short
Despite a good start:
- Captain Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter scored 44 runs each, but the team failed to build partnerships.
- Jane Maguire impressed with the ball: 3 wickets for 33 runs in 10 overs.
Ireland collapsed under pressure and ended up short by 38 runs.
📈 Points Table After Match 1
| Team | Matches | Wins | NRR | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 1 | 1 | +0.76 | 2 |
| Ireland | 1 | 0 | -0.76 | 0 |
🌍 Tournament Overview
The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Qualifiers include:
- Teams: Pakistan, Ireland, Bangladesh, West Indies, Scotland, and Thailand.
- Format: Single-league round-robin (Top 2 qualify for the World Cup).
- Dates: April 9 – 19, 2025
- Venues: Gaddafi Stadium & LCCA Ground, Lahore
Pakistan are hosting an ICC women’s event for the first time and have already beaten Thailand and West Indies in warm-up matches.
☀️ Weather Worries in Lahore
With temperatures soaring to 41°C, players face an uphill battle in the heat. Fortunately, cloudy weather was forecasted for match days.
Pakistan’s Qualifier History
Pakistan have previously competed in three Women’s World Cup Qualifiers and qualified on all three occasions — showing consistency and hunger to shine on the big stage.
📣 What’s Next?
Stay tuned as Pakistan prepare for their next group matches. Can they continue their winning momentum and book a ticket to India for the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup?
