Pakistan prove too strong for Ireland

CRICKET:PAKISTAN PROVED too strong for Ireland in the opening match of the ICC Women's Challenge in South Africa as they claimed a comfortable seven-wicket victory in Potchefstroom yesterday.

Put into bat after losing the toss, Ireland were bowled out for just 116, with 33 of those runs coming in wides. Only three Ireland players made it to double figures, with Jill Whelan top-scoring with 18, while Cecelia Joyce and 14-year-old Kim Garth made 16 each.

Ireland needed to strike early and Whelan did just that with her second delivery thanks to some good work from wicketkeeper Mary Waldron, who stumped Marina Iqbal for just one. Javeria Khan and Nain Abidi put together a vital 50-run partnership for the second wicket before Khan was caught by Louise McCarthy off the bowling of Eimear Richardson for 25. Isobel Joyce also picked up a wicket, but Abidi would bring her side home, hitting eight fours in an unbeaten half-century as Pakistan won with over 100 balls to spare. Ireland face the West Indies today.

Ireland’s Trent Johnston and Kevin O’Brien missed out on the Associate player of the year award at the ICC awards in Bangalore yesterday, with Ryan ten Doeschate of the Netherlands winning.

Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar won the cricketer-of-the-year award while team-mate Virender Sehwag was named the Test cricketer of the year.

Tendulkar staved off the challenge from Sehwag, South African batsman Hashim Amla and England off-spinner Graeme Swann to lift the Garfield Sobers Trophy.