Women's Emerging Nations Trophy Day 2: Sri Lanka, Pakistan stay unbeaten in Ajman
Synopsis
Sri Lanka and Pakistan made it two wins from two at the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 in Ajman, while Gaby Lewis's blazing 71 off 40 balls guided Ireland to their first victory and Dilara Akter's unbeaten 68 powered Bangladesh to a nine-wicket demolition of Zimbabwe — a Day 2 that sets up a mouth-watering battle at the top of the standings.
Key Takeaways
Sri Lanka beat Scotland by four wickets — Vishmi Gunaratne top-scored with 49 and Abtaha Maqsood took 3 for 18 for Scotland.
Pakistan defeated Thailand by 24 runs , powered by Ayesha Zafar's unbeaten 59 off 26 balls and Tasmia Rubab's 4 for 18 .
Ireland captain Gaby Lewis struck 71 off 40 balls to lead a 61-run win over hosts UAE — Ireland's first win of the tournament.
Bangladesh crushed Zimbabwe by nine wickets ; Dilara Akter (68*) and Shathi Rani (45) shared a 104-run opening stand.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan are the only teams with two wins from two matches at the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 in Ajman, UAE .
Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ireland, and Bangladesh each claimed victory on Day 2 of the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 in Ajman, UAE on Saturday, 13 November, producing a full card of competitive T20 cricket across the four fixtures. Sri Lanka and Pakistan extended their winning runs to two from two, while Ireland and Bangladesh each bounced back emphatically from their opening-round results.
Gunaratne steers Sri Lanka past Scotland
Vishmi Gunaratne top-scored with 49 as Sri Lanka recovered from a nervous middle-order wobble to beat Scotland by four wickets. Scotland had been in serious difficulty at 26 for 4 after eight overs, but Darcey Carter's gritty 62 off 55 balls hauled them to a competitive 111 for 8, with Sugandika Kumari finishing with 2 for 15.
Sri Lanka's chase wobbled when Hasini Perera was dismissed for a duck off the first ball, and Abtaha Maqsood's burst of 3 for 18 — including two wickets in three balls — reduced the chase team to 83 for 5, requiring 29 off 32 balls. Gunaratne held firm alongside Harshitha Samarawickrama (24) in the middle overs, taking Sri Lanka to within three runs of the target before Kaushini Nuthyangana (16 not out) closed out the win with 11 balls to spare. Final score: Sri Lanka 115 for 6 in 18.1 overs.
Lewis blitzes UAE to give Ireland their first win
Ireland captain Gaby Lewis delivered a Player of the Match display, smashing 71 off 40 balls — including 12 fours and a six — to power her side to a 61-run win over hosts the UAE, Ireland's first victory of the tournament. Lewis and Amy Hunter (29) put on a dominant 102-run opening stand before Hunter was run out in the 11th over.
After Lewis fell to Indhuja Nandakumar, Lara Maritz (29) and Laura Delany (18 not out) kept the momentum going as Ireland posted 171 for 5. In reply, the UAE slumped to 8 for 3 in the second over after Aimee Maguire struck with successive deliveries. UAE captain Esha Oza anchored a recovery with 51 off 45 balls, but once she was dismissed in the 15th over off Louise Little, the chase unravelled, the UAE closing on 110 for 8. Cara Murray and Maguire each finished with 2 wickets.
Ayesha's blitz fires Pakistan to second straight win
Ayesha Zafar struck an explosive 59 not out off 26 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six, as Pakistan beat Thailand by 24 runs. Openers Shawaal Zulfiqar (42) and Sadaf Shamas (37) built an opening stand of 63 to lay the foundations, before Ayesha and captain Muneeba Ali (37 not out) plundered an unbroken 87-run partnership to lift Pakistan to a formidable 180 for 2.
Thailand counter-attacked fiercely, with Natthakan Chantham (43) and Phannita Maya (33) racing to 74 inside eight overs. However, Tasmia Rubab broke the partnership and finished with 4 for 18 — including three wickets in the final over — as Thailand were restricted to 156 for 8, falling short by 24 runs.
Dilara leads Bangladesh to nine-wicket demolition of Zimbabwe
Dilara Akter's unbeaten 68 and a first-wicket stand of 104 with Shathi Rani (45) powered Bangladesh to a commanding nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe — a sharp response to their Day 1 defeat. Zimbabwe had recovered from 34 for 3 through a 73-run fourth-wicket partnership between Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (40) and captain Josephine Nkomo (35), eventually posting 131 for 7, with Rabeya Khan taking 3 for 26 and Disha Biswas 2 for 13.
Bangladesh overhauled the target with 15 balls to spare, reaching 132 for 1 in 17.3 overs. The result leaves Sri Lanka and Pakistan as the only sides with two wins from two as the tournament enters its next phase.
Brief Scores — Day 2
Scotland 111/8 (20 ov; Carter 62, McColl 16; Kumari 2/15, Sandeepani 2/18) lost to Sri Lanka 115/6 (18.1 ov; Gunaratne 49, Samarawickrama 24; Maqsood 3/18) by four wickets.
Ireland 171/5 (20 ov; Lewis 71, Hunter 29; Thirukkumaran 2/20) beat UAE 110/8 (20 ov; Oza 51, Dharnidharka 18; Murray 2/21, Maguire 2/23) by 61 runs.
Pakistan 180/2 (20 ov; Ayesha Zafar 59*, Zulfiqar 42; Laomi 1/28) beat Thailand 156/8 (20 ov; Chantham 43, Maya 33; Rubab 4/18) by 24 runs.
Zimbabwe 131/7 (20 ov; Mugeri-Tiripano 40, Nkomo 35; Rabeya 3/26, Biswas 2/13) lost to Bangladesh 132/1 (17.3 ov; Dilara 68*, Rani 45) by nine wickets.
Point of View
While the real competitive drama plays out in the mid-table encounters. Ireland's reliance on Lewis's individual brilliance (a 102-run stand that accounted for more than half their total) is a structural concern worth watching; remove that partnership and their batting depth looks thin. Bangladesh's nine-wicket win, meanwhile, reads better than it was — Zimbabwe collapsed from 33 for 0 to 34 for 3, gifting the game. The tournament's value lies precisely in exposing these margins: which rising sides have genuine squad depth versus which are one-player-away from vulnerability.
NationPress
14 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the Day 2 results of the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026?
On Day 2 in Ajman, Sri Lanka beat Scotland by four wickets, Ireland defeated the UAE by 61 runs, Pakistan beat Thailand by 24 runs, and Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by nine wickets. Sri Lanka and Pakistan both extended their winning records to two from two matches.
Who was the standout performer on Day 2?
Ireland captain Gaby Lewis earned Player of the Match honours for her 71 off 40 balls, hitting 12 fours and a six, as she led a 102-run opening stand with Amy Hunter. Pakistan's Ayesha Zafar (59* off 26 balls) and Bangladesh's Dilara Akter (68 not out) were also among the top individual performances of the day.
How did Sri Lanka win against Scotland in the Women's Emerging Nations Trophy?
Sri Lanka chased down Scotland's 111 for 8 to reach 115 for 6 in 18.1 overs, winning by four wickets. Vishmi Gunaratne's 49 was the backbone of the chase, with Kaushini Nuthyangana (16 not out) finishing the job with 11 balls to spare despite Scotland's Abtaha Maqsood taking 3 for 18.
How did Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by nine wickets?
Bangladesh restricted Zimbabwe to 131 for 7 — Rabeya Khan took 3 for 26 — and then chased the target with ease, reaching 132 for 1 in 17.3 overs. Dilara Akter's unbeaten 68 and Shathi Rani's 45 featured in an opening stand of 104, completing the win with 15 balls to spare.
Where is the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 being held?
The ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 is being held in Ajman, United Arab Emirates. The UAE are one of the competing teams and serve as the host nation for the tournament.
