On January 14, 2026, the warm-up clash between Nepal Women and Ireland Women ended overwhelmingly in favor of Ireland Women, who won by 99 runs at Lower Mulpani Cricket Ground located in Kathmandu. Ireland managed to score a formidable total of 200/7 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to impressive half-centuries from Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast. In response, Nepal was bowled out for just 101 runs in 19 overs.
This game was part of the warm-up series for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, allowing both teams to gear up for the upcoming tournament. The primary difference in the match was Ireland’s aggressive batting, while Nepal faced difficulties in their chase after losing early wickets.
Match Summary
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Nepal Women vs Ireland Women |
| Date | 14 January 2026 |
| Competition | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier Warm-up |
| Venue | Lower Mulpani Cricket Ground, Kathmandu |
| Toss | Ireland Women won and chose to bat first |
| Ireland Women | 200/7 in 20 overs |
| Nepal Women | 101 all out in 19 overs |
| Result | Ireland Women won by 99 runs |
ESPN’s scorecard indicates that Nepal was all out for 101 in 19 overs, marking a 99-run success for Ireland.
Ireland Women Innings: 200/7
Capitalizing on their decision to bat first after winning the toss, Ireland began their innings energetically. Gaby Lewis led the charge with a score of 77 off 38 deliveries, while Orla Prendergast backed her up with a striking 62 runs from just 29 balls.
Lewis hit 12 boundaries and two sixes, achieving a notable strike rate of 202.63. Prendergast’s performance was even more dynamic, connecting for eight fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 213.79. Their contributions built a solid foundation for Ireland’s total of 200 runs.
Ireland Women Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Forbes | 15 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Gaby Lewis | 77 | 38 | 12 | 2 | 202.63 |
| Orla Prendergast | 62 | 29 | 8 | 3 | 213.79 |
| Leah Paul | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 110.52 |
| Laura Delany | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Rebecca Stokell | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Christina Coulter Reilly | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 62.50 |
| Arlene Kelly | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 157.14 |
| Extras | 5 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 200/7 | 20 overs | |||
| 10.00 RPO |
The official scorecard notes that Lewis, Prendergast, and Paul were listed as retired out rather than being dismissed traditionally. In the end, Ireland concluded their innings at 200/7.
Ireland’s Top Run Scorers
Gaby Lewis – 77 off 38
Lewis topped the scoring for the match. Her innings of 77 included 12 hits to the boundary and two sixes, maintaining a strike rate of over 200, which set the mood for the Ireland innings.
Orla Prendergast – 62 off 29
Prendergast delivered yet another outstanding T20 performance. Her total of 62 featured eight fours and three sixes, with her strike rate of 213.79 emphasizing her aggressive approach against the Nepal bowling attack.
Leah Paul – 21 off 19
Paul added a valuable score before retiring out, contributing to Ireland’s sustained high scoring during the middle overs.
Arlene Kelly – 11 off 7
Kelly contributed a swift 11 runs off just seven balls, featuring two boundaries, which assisted Ireland in achieving a total of 200 runs by the conclusion of their innings.
Nepal Women Bowling Scorecard
During Ireland’s innings, Nepal employed eight bowlers. The standout performer was Rubina Chhetry, who claimed 2 wickets for 17 runs, while Riya Sharma secured one wicket. Chhetry was especially effective during the middle overs, dismissing both Laura Delany and Rebecca Stokell.
| Nepal Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somu Bist | 4 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 7.25 |
| Kabita Kunwar | 3 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 9.67 |
| Riya Sharma | 3 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 14.00 |
| Menuka Upadhyay | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7.00 |
| Indu Barma | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 16.00 |
| Rajmati Airee | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Kabita Joshi | 2 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 16.50 |
| Rubina Chhetry | 3 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 5.67 |
Rubina Chhetry’s performance, featuring 2 wickets for 17 runs in three overs, stood out amongst Nepal’s bowlers. However, Ireland’s attacking batting left little margin for the bowlers to operate effectively.
Nepal Women Innings: 101 All Out
In pursuit of 201 runs, Nepal needed to begin strongly. Instead, they lost Samjhana Khadka without scoring and then Kajal Shrestha cheaply as well. Though Bindu Rawal and Kabita Joshi attempted to steady the innings, Nepal found it challenging to form the necessary partnerships against the consistent bowling of Ireland.
Ultimately, Nepal was bowled out for 101 runs in 19 overs, with a run rate of 5.32.
Nepal Women Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bindu Rawal | 25 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 89.29 |
| Samjhana Khadka | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kajal Shrestha | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Puja Mahato | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Indu Barma | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Rubina Chhetry | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 36.36 |
| Kabita Joshi | 28 | 29 | 6 | 0 | 96.55 |
| Kabita Kunwar | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 62.50 |
| Roma Thapa | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Sita Magar | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 45.45 |
| Rajmati Airee | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Extras | 11 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 101 all out | 19 overs | |||
| 5.32 RPO |
The top run scorers for Nepal were Kabita Joshi with 28 runs and Bindu Rawal with 25 runs, together accounting for more than half of the team’s overall score.
Who Achieved the Highest Run Total for Nepal?
Kabita Joshi – 28 from 29
Joshi recorded the top score for Nepal. She hit six boundaries and faced 29 balls, yet Ireland’s bowlers consistently applied pressure and ultimately got her out in the 17th over.
Bindu Rawal – 25 from 28
Rawal made a steady contribution of 25 runs, including five fours. She was among the few Nepalese batters to have a considerable stint at the crease.
Indu Barma – 12 from 10
Barma maintained a solid strike rate of 120 and briefly generated some momentum for Nepal, but her exit at 49/5 left the lower-order batters with excessive work ahead.
Scorecard for Ireland Women’s Bowling
Ireland’s bowling lineup provided a thorough performance. Four bowlers recorded two wickets each, with Aimee Maguire achieving the most effective figures of 2/3 over two overs. Orla Prendergast also stood out, taking 2/9.
| Ireland Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orla Prendergast | 3 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 3.00 |
| Jane Maguire | 3 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 6.00 |
| Lara McBride | 2 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 6.00 |
| Arlene Kelly | 3 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 4.67 |
| Cara Murray | 3 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 4.33 |
| Aimee Maguire | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1.50 |
| Laura Delany | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8.50 |
| Leah Paul | 1 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 15.00 |
Maguire’s 2/3 was the most economical bowling performance in the match. Prendergast’s performance of 2/9 was also impressive, especially given her earlier contribution of 62 runs with the bat.
Wicket Fall
Ireland’s innings advanced swiftly, with the first wicket taken at 54 runs. Lewis and Prendergast then moved the team total past 170 before retiring.
Ireland Women:
- 54/1 – Sarah Forbes, 4.6 overs
- 110/2 – Gaby Lewis, 9.6 overs
- 174/3 – Orla Prendergast, 14.6 overs
- 177/4 – Laura Delany, 15.5 overs
- 181/5 – Leah Paul, 16.6 overs
- 183/6 – Rebecca Stokell, 17.3 overs
- 200/7 – Arlene Kelly, 19.6 overs
Nepal Women:
- 3/1 – Samjhana Khadka, 2.2 overs
- 12/2 – Kajal Shrestha, 4.1 overs
- 32/3 – Bindu Rawal, 6.3 overs
- 36/4 – Puja Mahato, 7.4 overs
- 49/5 – Indu Barma, 9.3 overs
- 56/6 – Rubina Chhetry, 11.2 overs
- 62/7 – Kabita Kunwar, 13.5 overs
- 76/8 – Roma Thapa, 15.1 overs
- 96/9 – Kabita Joshi, 17 overs
- 101/10 – Sita Magar, 19 overs
Ireland versus Nepal: Important Match Statistics
Ireland’s superiority is evident when comparing the key statistics. Ireland scored precisely 10 runs per over, in contrast to Nepal’s 5.32 runs per over. The winning margin of 99 runs highlighted the disparity in batting strength and bowling effectiveness.
The top individual scores were also represented by Ireland. Lewis tallied 77 runs, while Prendergast contributed 62. Their total of 139 runs formed a substantial part of Ireland’s overall score of 200.
Nepal’s two highest scores, Joshi’s 28 and Rawal’s 25, summed to just 53. This gap in the performance of the top order was a significant reason for the eventual outcome.
What Transpired During the Match?
Ireland’s choice to bat first turned out to be an excellent strategy. From the outset, Lewis and Prendergast aggressively targeted the bowlers, putting Nepal on the back foot. By the time the tenth over concluded, Ireland had amassed 110 runs and progressed to 174 after 15 overs.
In contrast, Nepal’s attempt to chase failed to match that level of aggression. The frequent loss of wickets hindered the home team from establishing a significant partnership. Although Joshi and Rawal managed to put up some resistance, Ireland’s bowlers kept a firm grip on the match throughout the innings.
The game concluded when Sita Magar was stumped off Cara Murray during the 19th over, with Rajmati Airee left not out on one run. Nepal was all out for 101, resulting in a 99-run triumph for Ireland.
Conclusion
Ireland Women triumphed by 99 runs.
Ireland Women – 200/7 (20 overs)
- Leading scorer: Gaby Lewis – 77 from 38
- Runner-up scorer: Orla Prendergast – 62 from 29
- Top bowler for Nepal: Rubina Chhetry – 2/17
Nepal Women – 101 all out (19 overs)
- Leading scorer: Kabita Joshi – 28 from 29
- Runner-up scorer: Bindu Rawal – 25 from 28
- Top bowler for Ireland: Aimee Maguire – 2/3
This warm-up match served as a crucial preparation ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier. Although Ireland’s victory by 99 runs highlighted a clear disparity on this occasion, Nepal benefited from valuable experience against an international team capable of posting over 200 runs in a T20 match.
For those seeking the full scorecard for the 2026 encounter between Nepal Women and Ireland Women, the primary takeaway is clear: Ireland’s dynamic top order set the pace for the match, and their bowling unit executed their role effectively. Gaby Lewis and Orla Prendergast were the top performers with the bat, while wicket-taking duties were shared by Aimee Maguire, Orla Prendergast, Lara McBride, and Arlene Kelly.
