AJMAN, UAE: After a disappointing loss on day one of the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy to Sri Lanka, Ireland bounced back today with a dominant victory over hosts UAE, winning by 61 runs to secure their first points in the competition.
Captain, Gaby Lewis, was in blistering form, hitting 12 boundaries and one six to race to 71 from 40 before she misjudged an inswinging delivery from Indhuja Nandakumar. Earlier, her opening stand of 102 with vice-captain, Amy Hunter (29), was going brilliantly before Lewis called Hunter back for a second that was never there, and the keeper-batter was well short of her ground.
Lara Maritz (29) showed signs of finding her feet as a batter at this level, hitting three boundaries before she looked to accelerate and was caught off the bowling of Janani Thirukkumaran. There were useful late contributions, too, from Laura Delany (18) and Alana Dalzell (11) who helped to elevate Ireland’s total to 171-5.
UAE lost early wickets in their reply, the Maguire sisters bowling in tandem and each taking a wicket in their first overs. Aimee, in fact, struck twice in her first over, leaving the home team reeling at 8-3. UAE’s ever-dependable captain, Esha Oza (51), proved difficult to contain, but Ireland did well to starve her of the strike and take consistent wickets at the other end.
All of Ireland’s bowlers took wickets with Jane and Aimee Maguire finishing with the same figures of 2-23. Cara Murray once again impressed with a return of 2-21 and Lara McBride, coming into the team today in place of Kia McCartney, was the most economical with a return of 1-19. Just five bowlers were used by Gaby Lewis in Ireland’s restriction of the UAE response. They managed 110-8 in their 20 overs, 61 runs short of the Ireland total.
Ireland Women now have a short break with two days off between fixtures. They will return to the field on Monday to take on Papua New Guinea with the later start time of 9.15am (GMT). You can watch live on www.icc.tv.
MATCH SUMMARY
UAE Women v Ireland Women, Match 6, Ajman, 13 November 2026
Ireland 171-5 (20 overs; G Lewis 71, A Hunter 29, L Maritz 29; J Thirukkumaran 2-20)
UAE 110-8 (20 overs; E Oza 51; C Murray 2-21, J Maguire 2-23, A Maguire 2-23)
Ireland Women won by 61 runs
