Left-handed opening batter Muneeba Ali hit 102 runs to guide Pakistan to a thumping win over Ireland in Match No. 10 of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Newlands on Wednesday (February 15).
With this knock, Muneeba also became the first-ever Pakistan woman to smash a hundred in T20Is. Her 68-ball stay in the middle was laced with 14 fours and a partnership of 101 runs with Nida Dar.
Muneeba and Dar laid the foundation of Pakistan’s highest total in a T20 World Cup game – 165/5, after they were sent in to bat by the Irish captain.
In reply, Ireland were bundled out for 95 in 16.3 overs. Left-rm spinner Nashra Sandhu claimed her career-best bowling figures of four for 18 to hand Pakistan a resounding win.
After being named the Player of the Match, Muneeba said: “When I got the start and had partnership with Nida, she kept telling me to keep going and around 12 or 13th over I realized that I can actually get to a 100. I was playing with the field and trying to understand what they wanna bowl and making a plan about where I can get a boundary.”
“I want to dedicate the award to my captain and my team-mates. We had a bad game yesterday, we fought well and everyone is happy today, so I want to dedicate this to them,” the 25-year-old added.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
HISTORIC! 🙌🏼
💯 Muneeba Ali becomes the first-ever Pakistan batter to score a century in Women's T20 World Cups & T20 Internationals! #T20WorldCup #BackOurGirls #PAKvIRE pic.twitter.com/b0P6ZcDU31
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 15, 2023
Congratulations @MuneebaAli17 on scoring 💯 in T20 international #PakvsIreland #T20worldcup pic.twitter.com/sGAin79Y1M
— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) February 15, 2023
Great achievement many congratulations👏👏👏 @MuneebaAli17 https://t.co/dGkVBzOiPk
— Azhar Ali (@AzharAli_) February 15, 2023
What a performance by our girls and what a knock by @MuneebaAli17 👏🏼
Mubarak on the victory, onwards and upwards team In Shaa Allah 🇵🇰🚀#PAKvIRE #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/fxOqbquXIh— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) February 15, 2023
Muneeba Ali 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. All of Pakistan should and will be proud.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) February 15, 2023
At the start of the #T20WorldCup2023 if anyone had told Muneeba Ali would be the one to score the first century, don't think many would have taken that seriously. What an historic moment for her and Pakistan. Incredible innings! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xTUhrhKzCo
— Sa. Gomesh | ச. கோமேஷ் (@SaGomesh) February 15, 2023
Muneeba Ali might not have been on anyone’s mind for first @T20WorldCup 💯 but this reflects the constant surprise nature of this World Cup and growing depth of the game. Congrats @MuneebaAli17 on your historic moment for @TheRealPCB and here’s to many more. #PakvIre #TurnItUp https://t.co/cGn56iWqef
— Mel Jones (@meljones_33) February 15, 2023
She made history! What a knock @MuneebaAli17 👏🏼 Many congratulations to Pakistan’s women cricket team on their first victory in the #T20WorldCup 👍🏼 #PAKvIRE #BackOurGirls pic.twitter.com/u6a97lmnYD
— Fawad Alam (@iamfawadalam25) February 15, 2023
Muneeba Ali might not have been on anyone’s mind for first @T20WorldCup 💯 but this reflects the constant surprise nature of this World Cup and growing depth of the game. Congrats @MuneebaAli17 on your historic moment for @TheRealPCB and here’s to many more. #PakvIre #TurnItUp https://t.co/cGn56iWqef
— Mel Jones (@meljones_33) February 15, 2023
Mandatory pic with the first centurion for Pakistan in T20 and T20 World Cup. The name is @MuneebaAli17 💪🏼🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/lDeEFN8CKD
— Sana Mir ثناء میر (@mir_sana05) February 15, 2023
Mubarak Pakistan’s women cricket team on their victory against Ireland in the #T20WorldCup 👏🏼 Special credits and appreciation for our first female centurion @MuneebaAli17 in T20Is 🔥
Proud of you team!🇵🇰 #PAKvIRE #BackOurGirls pic.twitter.com/utCr8xYEZk
— Imam Ul Haq (@ImamUlHaq12) February 15, 2023
