Stokell's maiden fifty powers Ireland to record chase against Pakistan

Ireland Women pulled off their highest chase in T20Is, beating Pakistan by seven wickets in the ongoing tri-series in Dublin on Sunday (May 31).

Rebecca Stokell, playing at three for only the second time, smashed her first T20I fifty, spearheading a 177-run chase that gave Ireland their first points in the series. Their previous best chase in a T20I (171) was also against the same team last year at the same location.

Wicketkeeper Amy Hunter led the charge early, using her feet well to hit over the in-field, and bringing out the ramp shot in the second over itself. She repeatedly ran down the track, adjusting to the lengths, even as Alana Dalzell was kept quiet at the other end.

Dalzell was injured in the fourth over, and the next over he died. Stokell came in, and he started with a beautiful inside-out four. At the other end, Hunter carried on, cleverly navigating gaps with her feet. She reached her fifty in 41 balls, but fell soon after, trying to go over long-off, but not clearing the fielder.

Stokell continued unbothered, using her tall frame to get to the pitch without overhitting. She made good use of the width of the crease when facing spinners. She reached her first fifty with a sweetly timed four off a sweep.

Orla Prendergast arrived at the right time to ignite the chase. She hit Diana Baig for three fours in a row to bring the equation down to eight needed in two overs. In the penultimate over, Prendergast was out lbw in an anticlimactic move, but Leah Paul, who came in next, made sure there was no more drama. Deservedly, Stokell hit the winning runs.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan were hit by a late stutter that saw them post 176/6, when a much bigger total was in sight. Ireland was attacked immediately in the Powerplay by openers Feroza and Muneeba Ali, assisted by sloppy fielding. Dropped from the third ball, Feroza attacked the shorter boundary, even performing lap sweeps to gain access to additional areas. Muneeba aggressively attacked the leg side, scoring three sixes, one of which caused players to flee from the boundary's change room. An off-cutter by Dalzell brought her end, trying out another leg-side hit, but getting caught by Stokell at the boundary. Pakistan were 148/3 after 14 overs, and they looked like they might even reach 200.

However, it was not to be. The following over saw a well-set Saira Jabeen fall, giving Pakistan two new batsmen at the crease. Fatima Sana was successful in achieving a few boundaries, but their run-rate climb came to a halt in the final overs. Sana departed off the first ball of the final over, with only three runs coming from it, and Alia Riaz being run-out trying to get an extra run.

Ireland play West Indies next on Monday (June 1).