Ireland favourites for World Cup berth

Ireland moved to the leading position in the International Women's Cricket Council tournament being played in the Netherlands when they beat the Pakistan team by eight wickets yesterday. It was Pakistan's first loss of the tournament.

Ireland will now be favourites to take one of the two positions up for grabs at the next Women's World Cup in South Africa in 2005. Ireland played at the last event in New Zealand in 2000.

Pakistan scored 143 for 7 in their 50 overs with Zehmurad Afzal scoring 34 and Nazia Nazir 22. Barbara McDonald proved highly effective with her bowling by taking 1 for 13 from nine overs. Ireland reached 144 for 2 in 35.5 overs with Miriam Grealey scoring 61 not out and Catriona Beggs 35 not out.

The Netherlands beat Japan by 301 runs after batting first and scoring 375 for 5 in their 50 overs. Pauline te Beest scored 143, the sixth-equal highest-score in women's ODIs and an extension of the Dutch record she set with her 138 two days ago against Scotland. The total was the fifth highest in all women's ODIs and bettered the Dutch record they set two days ago against Scotland. Caroline Salomons scored 60 and Helmien Rambaldo 46. Their winning margin of 301 runs is the fourth-highest in all women's ODIs. Again the Scotland match was their previous highest with a 219-run margin while before that their best was 70 runs against the West Indies at Stoke-on-Trent in the 1993 World Cup. The 74 that Japan scored in reply was their highest innings to date.

West Indies were untroubled in crushing Scotland. The hapless Scots were all out for 74 in 35 overs while West Indies scored 75 without loss in only 8.5 overs.

Match 9/15        P   W   L  NR  T Pts  Net-RR    For       Aga
Ireland           3   3   -   -  -   6  +1.355  291/94.5  257/150
Netherlands       3   2   1   -  -   4  +3.333  800/150   274/137
Pakistan          3   2   1   -  -   4  +1.148  488/150   286/135.5
West Indies       3   2   1   -  -   4  +0.753  253/95.5  283/150
Scotland          3   -   3   -  -   0  -3.193  264/150   539/108.5
Japan             3   -   3   -  -   0  -4.599  162/150   619/109