Women's Emerging Nations Trophy Day 1: Sri Lanka thrash Ireland by 10 wickets
Synopsis
Sri Lanka crushed Ireland by 10 wickets in just 13 overs on the opening day of the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in Ajman, with Sathya Sandeepani's 3-9 and a twin fifty stand from Gunaratne and Perera setting the tone. Pakistan, Scotland, and the Netherlands all won too — but none as emphatically as Sri Lanka, who look the team to beat early on.
Key Takeaways
Sri Lanka beat Ireland by 10 wickets in 13 overs , with Sathya Sandeepani taking 3 for 9 and both openers scoring unbeaten fifties.
Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets with 25 balls to spare; Tuba Hassan took 3 for 26 .
Scotland beat Papua New Guinea by seven wickets , with Katherine Fraser contributing 3 for 10 and a blistering 45 off 29 balls .
Netherlands edged Thailand by five wickets off the final over, with Sterre Kalis finishing unbeaten on 33 off 26 balls .
All four matches were played on the opening day, 12 November , of the tournament in Ajman .
Sri Lanka announced their arrival at the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in Ajman with a comprehensive 10-wicket demolition of Ireland on 12 November, the opening day of the tournament. Pakistan, Scotland, and the Netherlands also claimed victories on a day of dominant performances across all four fixtures.
Sri Lanka Steamroll Ireland
Ireland's batting order crumbled for 105/9 in their allotted 20 overs, with only Louise Little's painstaking 28 off 36 balls and Amy Hunter's lively 21 off 16 balls offering any real resistance. Sri Lanka's pace trio was relentless: Sathya Sandeepani returned figures of 3 for 9, Kavisha Dilhari claimed 3 for 20, and Chethana Vimukthi contributed 2 for 26.
Sri Lanka's openers then made a mockery of the chase, cantering to victory in just 13 overs with 42 balls to spare. Vishmi Gunaratne finished unbeaten on 53 off 37 balls, striking six fours and a six, while Hasini Perera matched her with an equally fluent 53 not out off 41 deliveries, featuring eight fours and a six. Not a single Irish bowler took a wicket.
Pakistan Cruise Past Bangladesh
In Group B, Pakistan beat Bangladesh by eight wickets with 25 balls to spare. Tuba Hassan was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 26, while Nashra Sandhu was remarkably economical, conceding just 13 runs in a two-wicket spell. Bangladesh were restricted to 108/9, with Nigar Sultana's 27 off 20 and Shorna Akter's unbeaten 21 providing the only meaningful contributions.
Pakistan's chase was anchored by Sadaf Shamas (37) and captain Muneeba Ali's unbeaten 31, with Ayesha Zafar finishing matters briskly with a 27 not out off 18 balls. Pakistan reached the target in 15.5 overs.
Scotland's Katherine Fraser Stars in All-Round Display
At the Seven Districts Ground, Scotland defeated Papua New Guinea (PNG) by seven wickets, led by an outstanding all-round performance from Katherine Fraser. After opting to field, Scotland skittled PNG for just 93, with Fraser taking 3 for 10 from four overs, Kirstie Gordon claiming 2 for 15, and captain Kathryn Bryce contributing 1 for 15. Pauke Siaka (24) and Tanya Ruma (22) were PNG's top scorers.
Scotland lost early wickets — Darcey Carter (8) and Kathryn Bryce (14) — but Fraser steadied the innings with a quickfire 45 off 29 balls. Sarah Bryce and Pippa Sproul then sealed the chase in 13.1 overs.
Netherlands Edge Thailand in a Close Finish
The day's tightest contest saw the Netherlands beat Thailand by five wickets in the final over. Thailand posted a competitive 136/2, underpinned by half-centuries from Natthakan Chantham (55) and Nannapat Koncharoenkai (54 not out), with skipper Naruemol Chaiwai contributing 22 not out.
The Dutch chase was anchored by an opening stand of 78 runs between Heather Siegers (42) and Babette de Leede (37). Sunida Chaturongrattana's 2 for 26 kept Thailand in the hunt, but Sterre Kalis held her nerve, finishing unbeaten on 33 off 26 balls to seal a win with just three balls to spare. Notably, Siegers had earlier taken 2 for 15 with the ball, making it a fine all-round contribution.
What to Watch Next
With all four favourites opening with wins, the group-stage dynamics are shaping up for competitive second-round fixtures. Ireland, Bangladesh, PNG, and Thailand will need significant recoveries to advance, while Sri Lanka's emphatic showing marks them out as early pace-setters in the tournament.
Point of View
Despite their progress in women's cricket, were outclassed in every phase — 105/9 is a score that leaves no room for discussion. The more interesting subplot is the Netherlands' narrow escape against Thailand: a five-wicket win off the final over against a side that posted 136/2 suggests the Dutch batting remains brittle under pressure, something opponents will note. Scotland's Katherine Fraser — bat and ball — is the emerging name from Day 1 worth tracking across the tournament.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on Day 1 of the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy?
All four matches on the opening day of the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in Ajman on 12 November produced results, with Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Scotland, and the Netherlands all winning their respective openers. Sri Lanka's 10-wicket win over Ireland was the most dominant performance of the day.
How did Sri Lanka beat Ireland in the Women's Emerging Nations Trophy?
Sri Lanka bowled Ireland out for 105/9 — with Sathya Sandeepani taking 3 for 9 and Kavisha Dilhari 3 for 20 — then chased the target in 13 overs without losing a wicket. Both openers, Vishmi Gunaratne and Hasini Perera, scored unbeaten fifties.
How did Pakistan perform against Bangladesh in the tournament?
Pakistan beat Bangladesh by eight wickets with 25 balls to spare. Tuba Hassan took 3 for 26 as Bangladesh were restricted to 108/9, and Pakistan's chase was guided home by Sadaf Shamas (37), captain Muneeba Ali (31 not out), and Ayesha Zafar (27 not out off 18 balls).
Who was the standout player in Scotland's win over Papua New Guinea?
Katherine Fraser starred with both bat and ball for Scotland, taking 3 for 10 and then scoring a quickfire 45 off 29 balls to steer Scotland to a seven-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea. PNG were bowled out for 93.
How did the Netherlands beat Thailand in the Women's Emerging Nations Trophy?
The Netherlands beat Thailand by five wickets in the final over, chasing down Thailand's competitive 136/2. Sterre Kalis played the decisive innings with an unbeaten 33 off 26 balls, while Heather Siegers contributed 42 with the bat and 2 for 15 with the ball.
