Muneeba Ali's century propelled Pakistan to a 70-run win over Ireland in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023.
The wicketkeeper-batter became the first Pakistani woman to score a century in a T20 international, helping her team to a total of 165 for five in 20 overs.
In response, Ireland stumbled as Nashra Sundhu took four wickets for 18 runs in four overs, while Orla Prendergast and Eimear Richardson's contributions were insufficient to prevent the European team from succumbing to its second defeat.
Pakistan's opening batswoman Muneeba led the charge, scoring 33 of the 44 runs she and Javeria Khan put on for the first wicket before Javeria was run out by Mary Waldron.
Arlene Kelly's fingertips just clung on to a low catch to reduce Pakistan to 55 for two. Captain Bismah Maroof added only four runs to her 68 not out against India.
The wicket brought out Nida Dar, who unusually sat patiently next to Muneeba, who reached her half-century off 40 balls after surviving the first of two drops by Louise Little.
Muneeba began to put on a show for the audience when she brought up Pakistan's hundredth birthday by getting down on one knee for the second time.
Nida was not to be outdone, dancing down the wicket to smash Cara Murray for six, but she could only stand there and watch as Muneeba surpassed her best T20I score of 75 to become Pakistan's highest T20I scorer.
Muneeba reached her maiden T20I century with eight balls remaining in the innings, the sixth in ICC Women's T20 World Cups.
The hundred partnership followed a ball later in an eventful over, before Muneeba departed for 102 from 67 off Leah Paul's final delivery, and was greeted back to the dugout with a standing ovation and a hug from a beaming Bismah.
Nida and Ayesha Naseem also fell in the final over, but the skipper's smile remained as Pakistan set Ireland 166 to win.
Ireland lost wickets steadily due to lapses in concentration, beginning with Amy Hunter, who was out in the second over when Nashra took a fine catch over her shoulder.
Nida bowled four consecutive dot balls before having Gaby Lewis caught behind by Muneeba, who was never far from the action at Newlands.
Prendergast provided a platform for Ireland with a fluent 31 that included back-to-back boundaries, but her good fortune ran out when she was caught by Sadia Iqbal for Nashra's second wicket.
After that, Tuba Hassan took her first World Cup wicket, dismissing Delany for eight points.
Richardson was looking for a partner but could only watch as Little was stumped for three by Muneeba. Unfazed, the right-hander began to consistently find the boundary, taking 16 runs off Aliya Riaz's first over.
She was the next to go when attempting a scoop, but Javeria caught her, giving Nashra her best figures of four for 18 and reducing Ireland to 89 for seven.
Unlike Ireland, Pakistan were sharp in the field, as Kelly departed for just one thanks to a low catch from Aiman Anwer.
Murray and Paul were the final two victims as Pakistan wrapped up the victory with 21 balls remaining.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 165/5 in 20 overs (Muneeba Ali 102, Nida Dar 33; Arlene Kelly 2-27, Laura Delany 1-20) beat Ireland 95 all out in 16.3 overs (Orla Prendergast 31, Eimear Richardson 28; Nashra Sundhu 4-18, Nida Dar 2-5) by 70 runs.