THE women's team will represent Ireland at the World Twenty20 next week and although they lost their final warm-up game in Dhaka yesterday to the might of India, the margin of 26 runs sends them into the main event in good spirits.

A much improved bowling performance from their defeat the previous day to Sri Lanka saw them restrict India to 148 for four and opener Clare Shillington then gave Ireland a whirlwind start with 47 from 43 balls.

But from 86 for two, Ireland lost six wickets for eight runs and only some late resistance by Louise McCarthy (16 not out) got her side into three figures.

Lucy O'Reilly took a wicket with her fourth ball, Elena Tice followed up with a wicket in her second over and when Melissa Scott-Hayward completed a run-out, Ireland had taken three wickets in 15 balls to reduce India to 75 for three at halfway.

It needed four successive fours from Poonam Raut, who finished 50 not out, to get India to their final total.

Shillington replied with three boundaries in a row in the fourth over to launch the Ireland reply and she finished with six fours and a six in an opening stand of 61 with Emma Flanagan, only ended when Emma was retired on 16.

Ireland's first match of the competition proper is against New Zealand on Tuesday, with games against Australia, South Africa and Pakistan to follow, all in Sylhet, from where the men's team fly home today.