Ireland

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ICC Women's World Cup qualifier, Lahore

West Indies 181-6 (33 overs): Taylor 46, Henry 46; J Maguire 3-35

Ireland 175 (32.2 overs): Hunter 48, Delany 32; Matthews 4-24, Alleyne 2-33

West Indies won by six runs

Scorecard

Ireland's hopes of securing a spot at the Women's World Cup later this year now look remote after West Indies beat them by six runs in a tense qualifier in Lahore.

The Irish lost their opener to hosts Pakistan on Wednesday in the six-team round-robin tournament, where only the top two will secure spots for the India showpiece.

In a contest reduced to 33 overs following rain, West Indies made 181-6 after Ireland won the toss with Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry both scoring 46.

Jane Maguire was the pick of the Ireland bowlers with her three wickets including the dismissal of Taylor although the Irish should have been chasing a significant lower totally after dropping six catches.

As was the case against Pakistan, Ireland started well in their reply as Amy Hunter and captain Gaby Lewis put on 57 for the opening wicket.

However, the skipper was then bowled by West Indies captain Hayley Matthews for 17 and three further wickets fell over the next six overs as the Irish slipped to 80-4.

These included the departure of top scorer Hunter for 48 as she was bowled by Afy Fletcher.

Knocks of 32 and 26 from former skipper Laura Delany and Christina Coulter Reilly moved the Irish to within 36 of their target before they were both dismissed by Aaliyah Alleyne.

After Ava Canning and Maguire departed in successive balls to Matthews to leave Ireland on 156-9, Arlene Kelly and Cara Murray got them to within seven runs of victory with an impressive partnership of 19.

However, Matthews ended the contest by dismissing Kelly for 18 with Henry taking the catch as West Indies claimed a vital victory after their defeat by Scotland on Wednesday.

Matthews' century wasn't enough for West Indies in midweek but her bowling figures of 4-24 from 6.2 overs proved the decisive contribution in Friday's match against Ireland's women, who face Bangladesh next on Sunday, 13 April.

Pakistan top the table with two wins from two matches after beating Scotland by six wickets.

Ireland skipper Lewis bemoaned the dropped catches which numbered six.

"We shouldn't have been chasing as many runs as that. You just can't get away with dropping that many chances against top nations," said the Irish captain.

"We bowled really well. [It was] Just those chances."

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ICC Women's World Cup qualifier, Lahore

Pakistan 217 (49 overs): Riaz 52, Ameen 51; J Maguire 3-33, Kelly 2-34, Murray 2-49

Ireland 179 (44 overs): Lewis 44, Hunter 44; Baig 4-35, Sandhu 3-41, Iqbal 2-37

Pakistan won by 38 runs

Scorecard

Ireland lost nine wickets for only 83 runs as they collapsed from a strong position to suffer a 38-run defeat against hosts Pakistan in their opening Women's World Cup qualifier in Lahore.

The Irish restricted Pakistan to only 217 from 49 overs in Lahore with Jane Maguire taking three wickets as Aliya Riaz and Sidra Ameen hit 52 and 51 for the hosts.

In their reply, Ireland reached 96-1 as captain Gaby Lewis (44) and Amy Hunter (44) produced a 69-run partnership but their departures within four overs turned the match in Pakistan's favour.

Orla Prendergast batted for nearly 17 overs as she hit 37 but wickets fell regularly at the other end as home bowlers Diana Baig and Nashra Sandhu did most of the damage.

Baig produced bowling figures of 4-35 with Sandhu's three wickets including the vital dismissals of Lewis, Hunter and Laura Delany for a duck as Ireland slipped from 96-1 to 119-4 in 6.2 overs.

Ireland briefly rallied as Prendergast and Leah Paul put on 34 for the fifth wicket but Paul's departure after being trapped lbw by Sadia Iqbal effectively ended Irish resistance they were only able to add a further 24 runs.

In the Pakistan innings, Maguire removed Gull Feroza for four in the second over, before Muneeba Ali and Sidra put on 77 for the second wicket.

However, Cara Murray trapped Sidra and then had Riaz caught by Louise Little to leave the hosts on 175-4 before they lost their last six wickets for only 42 runs with Arlene Kelly taking two dismissals late in the innings.

The Irish will be back in action on Friday against West Indies at the same Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore before further contests against Bangladesh, Thailand and Scotland.

Only the two top teams in the round-robin qualifier will secure places at the World Cup in India in September.

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Ireland captain Gaby Lewis says her side are feeling "very confident" before their forthcoming ODI World Cup qualifier event in Pakistan.

Ireland will take part in the six-team qualifier tournament, which runs from Wednesday, 9 April until Friday, 18 April.

They will face Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, Thailand and Scotland in a round-robin format.

The top two teams will qualify for September's eight-team World Cup, and Lewis believes Ireland are in a good place for their first game against Pakistan on Wednesday.

"We're feeling very confident going into this qualifier. We've had some great preparation leading up to it with a good training camp in Dubai, and we've been working really hard to acclimatise to the heat," she said.

"We're trying not to put too much pressure on ourselves. It's mostly about going out, enjoying ourselves and playing with our own aggressive nature - then hopefully the results will look after themselves."

Ireland have not qualified for an ODI World Cup since 2005, and they came second in last year's T20 World Cup qualifier after losing against Scotland in the final.

Amy Hunter and Jane Maguire have returned to the squad following injuries, while Kia McCartney has received her first call-up.

Before their opener against Pakistan, Ed Joyce's side played two warm-up games, against West Indies and Thailand, with all-rounder Laura Delany scoring back-to-back half-centuries.

Lewis believes Delany will be key to Ireland's hopes of finishing in the top two and qualifying for the tournament in India.

"She has done brilliantly in the first two warm-up games. She's also been great for us over the last 12 months - so looking forward to seeing her with bat and ball in this qualifier tournament."

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Third Twenty20 international, Harare

Zimbabwe 142-6 (18 overs): Raza 34; Delany 2-5, Young 2-38

Ireland did not bat:

Match abandoned

Scorecard

Zimbabwe secured a 1-0 series victory over Ireland after the third and final T20 in Harare was abandoned because of rain.

A delayed start saw the game reduced to 18 overs per side with Zimbabwe posting 142-6.

Sikandar Raza top-scored with 34 while Garth Delany took 2-5 in his only over and Craig Young claimed 2-38.

Rain returned before the Irish innings and the game was subsequently called off.

The opener was also abandoned because of rain before the hosts won Sunday's second match by three wickets.

Ireland started the tour with a 63-run victory over the Chevrons in a one-off Test encounter in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe hit back by clinching a 2-1 win in the three-match ODI series at the Harare Sports Club.

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Second Twenty20 international, Harare

Zimbabwe 141-7 (19.2 overs): Munyonga 43; Young 4-24, Tector 1-5

Ireland 137-8 (20 overs): Tucker 46; Gwandu 3-24, Sikandar Raza 2-22

Zimbabwe win by three wickets

Scorecard

Tony Munyonga guided Zimbabwe to a three-wicket victory over Ireland in the second Twenty20 international in Harare.

After the opening T20 was abandoned because of rain, Ireland batted first and set a chase of 137.

Craig Young claimed four wickets are Ireland piled pressure on Zimbabwe, but the hosts rallied through Munyonga's unbeaten 43 and claimed the match with four balls to spare.

Zimbabwe can win the three-match series in the final T20 between the sides on Tuesday, while Ireland require victory to draw the contest.

The hosts won the toss and elected to field as light rain briefly interrupted play, and Ireland lost captain Paul Stirling in the final ball of the first over.

Harry Tector, who was dismissed in the seventh over on 28, and Lorcan Tucker combined to put Ireland just shy of a ton before the Irish wicketkeeper was caught by Brian Bennett while on 46 in the 13th over.

Ireland looked poised for a strong score but Zimbabwe took a flurry of late wickets as George Dockrell, Neil Rock, Gareth Delany and Graham Hume all fell inside the final three overs as Ireland ended their innings on 137-8.

Young, only drafted into the T20 squad after an injury to Mark Adair, helped Ireland to a blistering start as he took out Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wesley Madhevere and Bennett to leave Zimbabwe at 14-3.

However, the hosts rallied and strong scoring from Sikandar Raza (22), Ryan Burl (27) and Munyonga (43) fired Zimbabwe to a series lead before Tuesday's final match.

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First Twenty20 international, Harare

Zimbabwe 77-5 (9 overs): Burl 36; Little 2-8, Young 2-15

Ireland did not bat:

Match abandoned

Scorecard

Ireland's opening T20 contest against Zimbabwe had to be abandoned following rain in Harare.

The first game in the three-match series was initially reduced to nine overs with Zimbabwe reaching 77-5 as Ryan Burl top-scored with 36.

He was one of Josh Little's two victims, with Craig Young also taking 2-15.

However, after the weather again intervened, the contest had to be abandoned, leaving Sunday and Tuesday's contests at the Harare Sports Club to decide the series.

Ireland have been been in Zimbabwe for three weeks, with the tourists having triumphed in the one-off Test between the countries before the hosts edged a 2-1 victory in a one-day international series.

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Craig Young has been drafted into Ireland's squad for the T20 series against Zimbabwe after Mark Adair pulled out with a knee injury.

Key paceman Adair picked up the injury while fielding in Tuesday's third and final ODI against the Chevrons in Harare.

Experienced bowler Young was part the Test and ODI squads on the tour of Zimbabawe but will now stay on for the three-match T20 series starting on Saturday.

It is the second Irish withdrawal for the series after opener Ross Adair was ruled out because of a calf injury with the uncapped Tim Tector called up as his replacement.

Harare is again the venue for the T20 series with the second game on Sunday before the final match on Tuesday.

Ireland started the tour with a 63-run victory over the hosts in a one-off Test encounter in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe hit back by clinching a 2-1 win in the three-match ODI series at the Harare Sports Club.

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Ireland opener Ross Adair has been ruled out of the T20 series against Zimbabwe which starts on Saturday with uncapped Tim Tector called up as his replacement.

Former Ulster rugby player Adair will miss the three-match series because of a calf injury.

Tector, a brother of Ireland internationals Harry and Alice, earns his first senior call-up after previously playing for the Ireland Wolves and captaining his country at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup.

Adair is a brother of Ireland all-rounder Mark Adair, whose impressive bowling display helped the Irish level the one-day international series in Harare on Sunday.

The injured opener's last innings for Ireland was an impressive 100 off 58 balls against South Africa in Abu Dhabi last September.

Ireland selector Andrew White described Adair's withdrawal as an "unfortunate loss" but said he had "no doubt" Tector is ready for senior international cricket.

"He has been the inter-provincial T20 competition's leading run-scorer for two years running, not only scoring heavily but also at a strike-rate over 150," added White.

After Saturday's opener in Harare, the T20 series will continue on Sunday before next Tuesday's concluding game which will be Ireland's final tour fixture.

Ireland defeated the hosts in the one-off Test in Bulawayo and the sides are level at 1-1 going into Tuesday's decider in the one-day series in Harare.

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Second one-day international, Harare

Zimbabwe 245 (49.0 overs): Madhevere 61, Sikander Raza 58; Adair 4-54

Ireland 249-4 (48.4 overs): Stirling 89, Campher 63; Gwandu 2-50

Ireland won by six wickets

Scorecard

A 144-run partnership between captain Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher steered Ireland to a six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe as they levelled the ODI series in Harare.

The hosts were dimissed for 245 with Wesley Madhevere (61) and Sikandar Raza (58) putting on 74 for the fourth wicket.

Stirling (89) and Campher (63), who also took 3-13, set the Irish on course for victory and they reached 249-4 with eight balls to spare.

Zimbabwe secured a 49-run win in Friday's opener and the sides will meet again at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday for the decider.

Ireland won the toss on Sunday and elected to field with the Chevrons moving to 73-3 before Madhevere and Sikandar Raza put them in a good position.

Campher trapped Madhevere and followed it up with two wickets in two balls to swing the momentum in Ireland's favour.

Sikandar Raza steadied Zimbabwe's innings and from 157-6 they were bowled out for 245 with an over remaining with Mark Adair claiming 4-54.

Andrew Balbirnie fell for 11 before fellow opener Stirling and Campher took Ireland to 171-1.

Lorcan Tucker (30*) and George Dockrell (20*) were at the creased as victory was sealed.

"I think we were better [than the first ODI] - there's no lull in that middle period, Sikandar and Wesley battled really well and that's when we were under the most pressure," said Stirling.

"I chucked the ball to Curtis and he really turned the game on it's head. I think 250 was about right for us to chase and we got there."

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One-off Test, Bulawayo (day three of five):

Ireland 260 (56.4 overs): McBrine 90*, M Adair 78; Muzarabani 7-58 & 298 (93.3 overs): Balbirnie 66, Tucker 58; Ngarava 4-55

Zimbabwe 267 (86.1): Welch 90, Muzarabani 47; McCarthy 4-75, McBrine 3-59 & 38-3 (15.0 overs): Bennett 15*; Humphreys 1-4

Zimbabwe require 254 runs to win with seven wickets left

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Ireland reduced Zimbabwe to 38-3 at the end of day three with the hosts chasing a target of 292 to win the one-off Test match in Bulawayo.

The Irish started the day on 83-1 with captain Andrew Balbirnie hitting 66 and Curtis Campher making 39 as the tourists continued building their lead.

A valuable 58 from Lorcan Tucker helped Ireland to a total of 298 with Richard Ngarava taking 4-55.

Barry McCarthy, Mark Adair and Matthew Humphreys each picked up a wicket as Zimbabwe struggled in their second innings.

Balbirnie and Campher provided a solid foundation for the Irish batters and Tucker's middle-order knock ensured they set a competitive target for Zimbabwe to chase.

The Chevrons made a decent start by reaching 18 without loss but the wickets began to tumble.

McCarthy was first to strike as he removed Ben Curran and then Adair bowled Takudzwanashe Kaitano to leave Zimbabwe 22-2.

Spinner Humphreys trapped Nick Welch for the final wicket of the day and give Ireland the advantage going into day four.

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Test Match: Zimbabwe v Ireland

Date: 6-10 February Venue: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

Coverage: Scorecard on the BBC Sport website

Captain Andrew Balbirnie says Ireland will relish being back in the Test arena in the one-off contest against Zimbabwe which starts in Bulawayo on Thursday.

Ireland's two wins in nine matches since making their men's Test bow in 2017 includes last summer's four-wicket win over Zimbabwe at Stormont.

That was Ireland's last Test match while the hosts will go into the contest after a 1-0 defeat in a two-game series against Afghanistan in Bulawayo over Christmas and the New Year.

"The first Test was quite a high-scoring [drawn] game and in the second Test was a lot of wickets taken, so we're not really sure what to expect," said the Ireland skipper, 34.

"But I think with the squad we have, we have all basis covered," said the Ireland captain.

The Irish earned their first Test win by beating Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi last March with the home victory over Zimbabwe then coming four months later.

"It's tough when you play sporadically, you don't play kind of three or four in a row, but I've always enjoyed playing Test cricket," added Balbirnie.

"I love the challenge. I love the group we have here, and I'm looking forward to playing my 10th."

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Third women's ODI, Rajkot

India 435-5 (50 overs): Rawal 154, Mandhana 135, Ghosh 59; Prendergast 2-71

Ireland 131 (31.4 overs): Forbes 41, Prendergast 36; Sharma 3-27, Kanwar 2-31

India won by 304 runs

Scorecard

India racked up their highest ever one-day international total as they earned a crushing 304-run win over Ireland to complete a 3-0 series triumph in Rajkot.

After winning the toss, the hosts posted a huge 435-5 as Pratika Rawal and captain Smriti Mandhana produced a first-wicket partnership of 233 with both going on to reach centuries.

Mandhana, skippering the hosts with regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur being rested for the series, was eventually dismissed by 135 after an innings that included 12 fours and seven sixes with Rawal going on to top-score with 154.

The captain smashed the fastest ODI hundred by a female India batter, reaching the mark in 70 balls, before eventually being caught by Ava Canning off the bowling of Orla Prendergast.

Richa Ghosh's 59 helped India pass 400 as the Ireland bowlers toiled in Aimee Maguire's absence.

Ireland were again without the spinner following the reporting of her bowling action by the match officials in Friday's opening game.

Maguire was Ireland's most successful bowler with three wickets in the opener but was left out for the two remaining games as she awaits an adjudication on her action following tests at an International Cricket Council-accredited testing centre.

In their reply, Ireland opener Sarah Forbes hit 41 but chasing down the fourth highest total in women's ODI history was never a realistic prospect as their last seven wickets fell for 31 with only Prendergast (36) offering any resistance.

Deepti Sharma was the pick of the home bowlers with figures of 3-27 while Tanuja Kanwar took two wickets.

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Second women's ODI, Rajkot

India 370-5 (50 overs): Rodrigues 102, Deol 89; Prendergast 2-75

Ireland 254-7 (50 overs): Coulter Reilly 80, Forbes 38; Sharma 3-37

India won by 116 runs

Scorecard

India enjoyed a commanding 116-run win over Ireland on Sunday to seal a one-day international series victory in Rajkot.

The hosts started the three-match series with a six-wicket win on Friday and comfortably cruised past Ireland in Sunday's second encounter.

Jemimah Rodrigues hit 102 and Harleen Deol added 89 as India posted a commanding total of 370-5.

It proved too much for the Irish, although with 254-7 they registered their highest ODI score against India and Christina Coulter Reilly shone with a maiden international half-century as she finished on 80 a

Ireland's build-up to the match was overshadowed by teenage spinner Aimee Maguire being reported for a suspect bowling action in Friday's first ODI.

The 18-year-old, who took three wickets in that game, will be tested at an International Cricket Council-accredited testing centre over the next fortnight.

Cricket Ireland said "full support" would be given to Maguire, who was not selected for Sunday's match despite being permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the test results are known.

Ireland struggled to contain the India batters with captain Smriti Mandhana (73) and Pratika Rawal (67) putting on 156 for the opening partnership and the hosts won the toss.

Rodrigues and Deol then combined for a 183-run stand as India posted a daunting target.

The tourists lost skipper Gaby Lewis for 12 before her opening partner Sarah Forbes (38) and Coulter Reilly took Ireland to 87-1.

After Forbes fell, Coulter Reilly and Laura Delany (37) put on 83 for the fourth wicket, but Ireland were well behind the required run-rate.

They could only manage 254-7 from their 50 overs with Deepti Sharma taking 3-37, while Orla Prendergast was the pick of the Irish bowlers with 2-75.

"The toss did have a part to play in it - it is a nice batting wicket but I don't think we bowled well enough in the first 10-15 overs," said Irish captain Lewis.

"When we came into the series all we asked for was progress. That's what we did from game one to game two. We scored more runs in this game and hopefully we can do in the final match and sneak a win."

The sides will meet at the Niranjan Shah Stadium again on Wednesday for the third and final ODI.