Gaby Lewis, bowlers headline Ireland's historic series win in Pakistan

Opting to bat first, Ireland openers Lewis and Amy Hunter showed attacking intent right from the start and they backed it up with their ability. To start with, Hunter hit Fatima Sana through point for a four in the second over and Lewis repeated the feat in the final ball of the over.

Lewis moved across the off stump to smash Nida Dar over square-leg for a maximum in the next over and then drove the off spinner through cover for another boundary. The tall right-hander hit four more fours in the first six overs to end the power play on 56 for no loss.

Lewis didn’t go easy on the Pakistan bowlers even after the power play and greeted Nashra Sundhu with two more fours. Eventually the 21-year-old brought up her ninth fifty (she also has one century in the format) from just 26 balls – the second fastest for Ireland in the format. Hunter took a back seat by then and kept giving strike back to her more attacking partner.

The duo brought up their century stand in the 12^th over and Ireland were looking for a huge score. Sundhu eventually struck for Pakistan with the wicket of Hunter with an arm ball.

That followed a good period for the hosts as Lewis fell in the 14^th over with Ghulam Fatima getting rid of her for 71 off 46 balls. Eimear Richardson also departed soon for just a solitary run with Dar striking in the next over.

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However, Orla Prendergast – having already hit Fatima for a six – was in her elements and made sure that Ireland had a good finish in the company of Rebecca Stokell. Prendergast hit three fours and a maximum during her innings and was run out for 37 off 23. Ireland amassed 167 for 4 from the stipulated 20 overs.

Chasing a big score for a series win, Pakistan needed a strong start, but they lost Sidra Amin early with Jane Maguire accounting for her. Javeria Khan tried to get with a few boundaries and took the score to 41 for 1 at the end of the power play.

Post the power play, Pakistan lost Muneeba Ali to Arlene Kelly and Ayesha Naseem to Richardson. Javeria kept going and added four boundaries in quick time. But once the opener fell for 50 off 37 balls, Ireland kept taking wickets and bowled Pakistan out for 133 in the 19^th over.

Brief Scores: Ireland 167/4 in 20 overs (Gaby Lewis 71, Amy Hunter 40; Nida Dar 1/27) beat Pakistan 133/10 in 18.5 overs (Javeria Khan 50, Nida Dar 26; Arelene Kelly 3/19, Laura Delany 3/20) by 34 runs