Ireland booked their place at the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, easing past Thailand by 62 runs on the final day of the qualifying tournament in Kathmandu. The result means Ireland follow Bangladesh and the Netherlands into next summer’s main event in England and Wales, with the last spot from this qualifier to be decided later between Scotland and the USA.
Put in on a used surface, Gaby Lewis chose to bat and her top order responded briskly. Amy Hunter swept and drove her way to 24 from 15 balls, Lewis ticked along for 25 off 30, and Orla Prendergast added a fluent 24 from 22. At 71-1 after ten overs Ireland seemed set for 140-plus, only for leg-spinner Suleeporn Laomi to drag Thailand back with 4 for 24. The middle and lower order managed just enough – Louise Little’s 14 and Jane Maguire’s unbeaten 15 nudging the total to 121 for 8.
“It wasn’t a huge score, but we felt it was above par on that pitch,” Lewis told the Cricket Ireland stream. “The message at halfway was simple: hit our lengths and stay patient.”
Her bowlers listened. Medium-pacer Arlene Kelly struck twice in her opening over and finished with a miserly 4 for 7. Off-spinner Lara McBride (3 for 6) wrapped things up, Thailand bowled out for 59 in the 17th over. Only skipper Naruemol Chaiwai (22) and keeper Nannapat Koncharoenkai (15) reached double figures.
Chaiwai accepted her side had been outplayed. “We’ve chased totals like that before,” she said. “Today we lost wickets in clusters and Ireland didn’t let us back in.”
Head coach Ed Joyce praised the discipline of his attack. “Arlene set the tone and Lara was superb through the middle,” he noted. “Qualification was the main goal and we’ve ticked that box.”
For Ireland it is a third straight appearance at the global tournament, and Joyce believes conditions in England and Wales will suit. “Our seamers enjoy a bit of nip and the batters like pace on the ball. We’re looking forward to it already.”
Thailand, meanwhile, leave Nepal with three wins from six games and valuable experience. “We’re closing the gap,” Laomi reflected. “Next step is making these performances more consistent.”
Attention now shifts to the last fixture of the qualifier: Scotland v USA. The winner joins the twelve-team World Cup line-up; the loser heads home wondering what might have been.
