Muneeba Ali’s bat was all timing and authority at Clontarf Cricket Club as the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter crafted an unbeaten century to lead Pakistan Women to an eight-wicket win over Ireland Women in the third and final T20I.
Chasing 156 — their highest successful pursuit in the format — Pakistan reached the target with 14 balls to spare, thanks to Muneeba’s 100 not out from 68 balls, laced with 14 fours and a six. It was her second T20I hundred, both against Ireland, the first having come in February 2023 off 66 deliveries. No other Pakistan woman has achieved the feat even once.
The chase began with intent. Muneeba opened with a hat-trick of fours off Orla Prendergast, setting the tone. The Powerplay yielded 55 runs but cost Pakistan both openers — Shawaal Zulfiqar and Natalia Parvaiz, the latter promoted up the order to inject early momentum.
From 55-2, Muneeba found a resolute partner in Aliya Riaz. The pair built a century stand for the third wicket, only the fourth in Pakistan’s women’s T20I history, and the second in which Muneeba has been involved. Muneeba reached her half-century from just 29 balls, and by the halfway mark the requirement had dropped to a manageable 72 from 60.
Aliya’s crisp strokeplay — 39 not out from 27 balls with five boundaries — ensured the scoreboard kept ticking without fuss. The winning run also carried Muneeba to three figures, a fitting climax to an innings that blended early aggression with measured acceleration.
Earlier, Ireland’s innings was front-loaded with a brisk 52-run opening stand in just 32 balls between captain Gaby Lewis (36 off 22) and Amy Hunter (29 off 33). Prendergast, later named Player of the Series, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 64 from 46 balls, striking eight boundaries to lift her side to 155-4.
Pakistan’s bowlers — Rameen Shamim, Waheeda Akhtar, Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana — claimed a wicket apiece, each breaking partnerships at key moments to keep the target within sight.
The win didn’t change the outcome of the series, which Ireland took 2–1, but it gave Pakistan a performance to savour: a record chase, a flawless hundred, and the reassurance that their top order can dominate when conditions are right.
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