Ireland got their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier preparations off to the perfect start with a convincing eight-wicket win over Thailand in Dubai on Thursday.
Captain Laura Delany marked her 200th appearance for Ireland by smashing the winning runs to the fence and sending her team to victory.
After being put into the field by Thailand at the toss, Delany was handed her 200th international cap by teammates Arlene Kelly and Gaby Lewis, becoming the first woman in the history of Irish cricket to do so.
The victory means Ireland clinch the series after the first match of two was washed out on Tuesday due to record rainfall in Dubai.
Ireland wasted little time in making a breakthrough, Ava Canning removing opening batter Nattaya Boochatham for a fifth-ball duck to leave Thailand 0-1 after the first over.
Delany’s side continued their excellence with the ball throughout Thailand’s innings, eventually bowling their opposition out for 79 in 19 overs.
Arlene Kelly was the pick of the Irish bowlers with figures of 4-12, while Delany took 2-13. As well as Canning, Alana Dalzell and Cara Murray each also accounted for a Thai batter.
Ireland’s reply got off to a shaky start with the loss of Lewis in the first over but Amy Hunter (31*) and Orla Prendergast (32) set up an ultimately comfortable win for Delany (15*) to seal.
Ireland now head to Abu Dhabi for two warm-up fixtures against Scotland on Sunday and the USA on Tuesday before their World Cup Qualifier campaign gets underway against hosts UAE next Thursday.
The tournament features eight teams vying for the two available spots at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Bangladesh, with Ireland pitted against UAE, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, and Vanuatu in Group B.
The top two in that group will go onto contest the semi-finals, the winners of which will then punch their tickets to the World Cup later in the year.
