Ireland hold nerve to seal World T20 berth

Ireland booked their berth in the 2014 World Twenty20 by securing a two-run win against Netherlands in a closely fought third-place playoff at the YMCA Cricket Club in Dublin.

The match, pushed to a reserve day due to heavy rains, went down to the last ball. Netherlands, chasing 137, needed a four to win, but Marloes Bratt could only parry straight down to long-on for a single. As a result of the victory, Ireland will join Sri Lanka and Pakistan in next year's 10-team showpiece T20 event in Bangladesh.

Ireland, put in to bat by Netherlands, had got off to a shaky start after opener Clare Shillington was caught behind by wicketkeeper Miranda Veringmeier off Braat in the first over. Ireland however hit back with an unbeaten 64-ball 72 from Isobel Joyce.

Joyce struck six fours during her innings and put up a crucial 80-run second-wicket stand with Kim Garth to help take Ireland to 136 for 5 in 20 overs.

Netherlands lost Veringmeier and Tessa van der Gun early in the chase, but recovered through a 53-run partnership for the third wicket between Helmien Rambaldo and Heather Siegers.

Rambaldo scored 58 off 54 balls, with three fours, but Ireland managed to keep Netherland's scoring rate from racing. Siegers was eventually run-out for 29, as Netherlands, facing an ever-increasing required-rate, needed 12 off the last over.

Rambaldo remained at the crease, but failed to find a boundary, as seamer Laura Delany held her nerve in the final over to seal the win for Ireland.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan will share the Women's World Twenty20 Qualifiers title, after rain prematurely ended the qualifier final at the YMCA Cricket Club in Dublin. However, for ranking purposes, Sri Lanka finish the tournament as No. 1 as they had a better net run rate.

Both teams had already booked their berths in the Women's World T20 in Bangladesh next year after beating Netherlands and Ireland in the semi-finals respectively.

Sri Lanka, electing to field, had restricted Pakistan to 112 in 20 overs, but as the rain began to pour down, the umpires had no choice but to postpone the final to a reserve day. Another pitch inspection in the morning of the reserve day ruled the outfield to be far too wet to play on, and the match was called off.

Thailand defeated Zimbabwe by 25 runs (D/L method) in the Shield final in Dublin, after the match was cut short by rain.

Somnarin Tippoch, the Player of the Match, spearheaded the bowling for Thailand, as they picked up wickets at regular intervals to restrict Zimbabwe to 85 for 6 in 20 overs. Zimbabwe could only manage two fours and one six throughout their innings, as Precious Marange, batting at No. 8, top-scored with 19.

Chasing a modest total in wet conditions, openers Pundarika Prathanmitr and Tippoch put up an unbeaten 48 in seven overs before the match was called off due to rain and Thailand were way ahead of their par score of 23.

The Shield third-place playoff between Canada and Japan was abandoned without a ball being bowled, despite the match being carried into the reserve day.