Pakistan beat Ireland at YMCA by 9 wickets and qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in 2014; as its bowlers showed its class.
Pakistan started well removing captain Isobel Joyce (0) as she was bowled by Sumaiya Siddiqi. Clare Shillington (5) - who has had a great start to the tournament - was the next to go by an outstanding run out square of the wicket by Nahida Khan; leaving Ireland on 10 runs for 2 wickets at YMCA.
Kim Garth (38 not out) with 2 fours put on a fantastic performance batting through the innings as her partners came and went. Cecelia Joyce (7) was next out caught lbw by spinner Sadia Yousuf. Yousuf got her second wicket 8 balls later as Mary Waldron (2) tried to slog the delivery to midwicket, only to be caught out by the spin and Batool Fatima did some good work to stump behind the wicket.
The Sadia Yousuf and Batool Fatima was a winning combination as Delany (4) and a dejected Tice (0) both were dismissed in the same way, leaving Ireland languishing on 32 runs for 6 wickets. The Irish wickets continued to fall and they finished on 65 all out in 19.5 overs. Sadia Yousuf performed outstandingly picking up 4 wickets for 9 runs in her four overs. Wicketkeeper Batool Fatima deserves a special mention for one catch and four stumpings.
Pakistan's batting performance was very professional and it managed the runs in just 14.1 overs. The only wicket to fall was Nahida Khan (13), after Ireland's player of the day Kim Garth got her wicket. Javeria Khan (34) and Nain Abidi (16) batted well and victory was assured as Pakistan won by 9 wickets. Pakistan reach the Trophy Final, while Ireland go into the 3rd/4th Trophy play off.
Winning captain Sana Mir was very happy with the win, ‘We bowled and fielded really well today and are really pleased going into the final with this confidence and performance. The conditions are different to what we have been used to here, which makes today even more pleasing.'
Captain Isobel Joyce was disappointed with her team's performance, ‘We are disappointed with our batting today and losing early wickets, but Pakistan are a very professional team and did their job. Ahead of the next match we need to get our confidence back amongst our batters and re-assess a few things.'
Sri Lanka joined Pakistan in the Trophy final and qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 2014 with a victory over the Netherlands at YMCA by 33 runs (D/L Method).
The start of the match was delayed to due rain and reduced to 19 overs. Sri Lanka once again showed why it is in such great form this tournament, Jayangani (19) and Mendis (26) started off really well, Jayangani scoring 4 fours before she was run out by Braat, after confusion in the middle. Mendis tried to cut away a very straight delivery and was bowled by Bruning, with Sri Lanka on 79 runs for 2 wickets.
Rasangika was the star batter for Sri Lanka scoring 47 runs off 50 balls with 4 fours, playing some excellent shots. Kaushalya also chipped in with 33, taking the Sri Lanka totally up to 157 runs for 6 wickets in 19 overs.
More heavy rain fell between the innings and the YMCA ground staff did excellently to get play resumed; Duckworth Lewis came into play with Netherlands having 9 overs to achieve the new target of 85.
The openers started off promisingly, Veringmeier (14) and Rambaldo (22) tried to keep on the required run rate. Veringmeier was the first to go bowled by Gunaratne, followed by the incoming Siegers (1) bowled Siriwardene caught Rasangika. No other batter got into double figures and the game was then out of the Netherlands reach finishing on 51 runs for 4 wickets; losing by 33 runs (D/L Method). The Netherlands will play Ireland in the 3rd/4th Trophy play off.
Captain of Sri Lanka, Shashikala Siriwardene was delighted to have qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in 2014, ‘We were very disappointed with our performance in the last ICC World Twenty20, so am delighted we have now qualified as well with it being in the Asian region. Looking ahead to the Trophy Final we have played Pakistan quite a lot, so it will be a difficult match, but one we hope to win.'
Netherlands captain Denise Hannema was positive ahead of the Ireland match. ‘We are disappointed by today's result, but we can take some positives out of the performance and bring that back on Wednesday, especially our positive batting. We can definitely sharpen our fielding up ahead of the next game and we are looking forward to it.'
At Malahide, in the first Shield semi final match Zimbabwe defeated Japan by 3 wickets and qualified for the Shield Final.
Japan batted first and made a slow start before losing consistent wickets throughout the innings, Sakamoto was bowled by Granger for a duck, then Yamamoto (4) bowled by Saili was next to go. In the tenth over Japan lost two wickets Ota (7) playing down the wrong line was bowled by Nkomo and Kubota (0) was run out three balls later by Mugeri for 0. Captain Miyaji was top scorer with 9 runs, the biggest contribution was the extras (21) and Japan finished on 58 all out in 18.4 overs. The pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers was Saili with 3 wickets for 15 runs.
The Zimbabwean openers started in its reply well with Tshumu (12) and Ndiraya (5), but then wickets began to fall. Yanagida bowled very well claiming 4 wickets for 5 runs in her four overs. Marange was the only other batter to get into double figures scoring 13 runs with 2 fours. Zimbabwe in the end managed to win comfortably by 3 wickets, claiming its place in the Shield Final, while Japan go into the 3rd/4th Shield play off.
The Thailand versus Canada match was abandoned for the day and the teams will return on Tuesday to finish the match as weather closed in on Malahide. Already reduced to 18 overs due to rain, the heavens opened after the Thai batting innings and play could not continue.
Thailand batted slowly with decent contributions from the top order Prathanmitr (10) and Chaiwai (15). Then in the twelfth over Tippoch (10) was run out as Bootchatham drove the ball the bowler Patel touched the ball onto the non-strikers stumps and Tippoch returned to the pavilion. Next ball, Boochatham (0) skipped down the wicket as the ball turned and Sivanantham took the bails off behind by the stumps. Chanida Sutthiruang (23 not out) got the Thai team up to a respectable score hitting 3 fours, Thailand finishing on 92 for 6 in its 18 overs. The Event Technical Committee has decided the continuation of the Canada and Thailand match will begin at 1000 at Malahide instead of the pre scheduled 1400.
Scores in brief:
At YMCA
Ireland 65 all out, 19.5 overs (Garth 38; Sadia Yousuf 4-9)
Pakistan 66 for 1, 14.1 overs (J Khan 34; Garth 1-11)
Pakistan won by 9 wickets
Player of the Match: Sadia Yousuf (Pakistan)
Sri Lanka 157 for 6, 19 overs (Rasangika 47, Kaushalya 33*, Mendis 26; Bennett 2-34)
Netherlands 51 for 4, 9 overs (Rambaldo 22, Veringmeier 14; Gunaratne 1-10)
Sri Lanka won by 33 runs (D/L method)
Player of the Match: HMD Rasangika (Sri Lanka)
At Malahide
Japan 58 all out, 18.4 overs (Miyaji 9, Saili 3-15)
Zimbabwe 59 for 7, 16 overs (Marange 13, Tshumu 12; Yanagida 4-5)
Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets
Player of the Match: M Yanagida (Japan)
Thailand 92 for 6, 18 overs (Sutthiruang 23,Chaiwai 15; Patel 2-23)
Canada- Did not bat
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