da leao： Ireland today completed a 3-0 ‘greenwash’ in their one-day series with Pakistan
Liam Cosgrove27-Jul-2000Ireland today completed a 3-0 ‘greenwash’ in their one-day series with Pakistan. Sometimes the scoreboard doesn’t tell the full story, but today at Sydney Parade on Dublin’s south-side it certainly did.After being sent in by Pakistan captain Shaiza Khan, the Irish women setabout re-writing the record books. After the loss of opener O’Leary for 5,Karen Young and Catriona Beggs assisted by some sloppy Pakistani fieldingposted an Irish women’s record second wicket partnership of 182. Beggs wasfinally dismissed for a hard earned 60, while Young, in only her thirdinternational went on to score a national record of 120 runs from only 157balls.After Grealey chipped in with a fine cameo innings of 32 not out Irelandfinished with an impressive 4 for 269 from their 50 overs. This, judgingby Pakistan’s form in the sides’ two previous encounters at Rush (in northCounty Dublin), was going to be a difficult task indeed.Saibh Young made the task more difficult by having Sharmeen Khan caughtbehind by Beggs with the score on 7. Nazia Nazeer and Kiran Baluch thenhad a steadying 45 run stand which gave one the impression that thePakistan team were now using this game as much needed practice for therest of their tour of Ireland and England. The resistance was short-livedhowever, and with Nazeer and Baluch both falling in their 20s the middleorder failed to make any impact. 2/52 quickly became 3/61, 4/72, 5/89 and6/103. Twelve year old Sajjida Shah hit a couple of bright boundariesbefore falling for 10.The final nails in Pakistan’s coffin were nailed in by Barbara McDonald,whose accurate medium pace, which had been economical against the toporder proved un-playable by the tail. Only a whisker away from claiming ahat-trick, McDonald cleaned bowled the last four Pakistani batters inquick succession to finish with impressive figures of 4 wickets for eightruns off 6.4 overs.Ireland won the game by 150 runs.The Pakistan women have a lot of work ahead of them if they are to becompetitive in the four day ‘test’ at College Park in Dublin’s citycentre, starting Sunday.