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Lahore, Pakistan: A five-wicket haul for Louise Little sealed a 46-run victory for Ireland over Thailand today – their first win of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier. Little closed the game out by taking the last five Thai wickets to fall and finishing with career-best figures of 5-28 having taken just one wicket in the format before today.  

Earlier, Gaby Lewis won the toss once more and elected to bat in stiflingly hot and humid conditions in Lahore. It was a brilliantly paced innings that saw all the batters who got an opportunity contributing.  

An opening partnership of 88 between Sarah Forbes (29) and Lewis (75) set things up for Ireland. Amy Hunter (76) continued her good form and Orla Prendergast (21) and Laura Delany (23*) added valuable runs but it was Leah Paul with 67* from just 40 deliveries who came in at the backend and elevated Ireland to an imposing total of 305-4.  

Thailand started slowly, but when they looked to accelerate, Gaby Lewis ran out star batter Nattaya Boochatham (19) to claim the first wicket. Soon after, debutant Kia McCartney had a moment she’ll never forget when she claimed her first international wicket, that of Chanida Sutthiruang (16) caught by fellow spinner Cara Murray, with just her second delivery. It was one of two dismissals for the off spinner from Coleraine who finished with 2-73.  

McCartney was one of three changes to the playing XI, Sophie MacMahon and Louise Little the other two players to come into the team in place of Arlene Kelly, Jane Maguire and Christina Coulter-Reilly. MacMahon returns after a long absence due to injury, and she did her cause no harm as she showed great control of her medium pace, finishing with 1-36. It was Little, though, who made sure of victory for Ireland and gives Head Coach Ed Joyce a selection headache ahead of his final match in charge of Ireland Women.  

Ireland face Scotland in their last match of the qualifier on Friday at the later start time of 10am Irish time. It marks the end of an era as Joyce finishes his tenure with the team after over six years in the job. Lewis and her team will no doubt want to finish his time in charge with a win, as well as wanting to spoil the party for Scotland who go into the match in contention for a spot at the World Cup later this year.