SRI LANKA, SCOTLAND START WITH DOMINANT WINS ON DAY 1 OF ICC WOMEN'S EMERGING NATIONS TROPHY 2026

• Wins also recorded by Pakistan and the Netherlands in their opening fixtures against Bangladesh and Thailand 

• Post-match interviews and a small selection of images is available in the videos and photos sections of the ICC Online Media Zone 

• Tournament standings can be viewed here 

Sri Lanka chased down 106 without losing a wicket to beat Ireland on the opening day of the ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy 2026 in Ajman, while Katherine Fraser's all-round display took Scotland past Papua New Guinea (PNG). 

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by eight wickets and the Netherlands edged Thailand in a final-over finish to bring an exciting close to Day 1. 

Gunaratne and Perera power Sri Lanka home 

Unbeaten half-centuries from Vishmi Gunaratne and Hasini Perera carried Sri Lanka to a 10-wicket win over Ireland in Group A. 

Ireland lost Amy Hunter for a brisk 21 and captain Gaby Lewis for four inside five overs, before Louise Little (28) rebuilt and took her side to 84 for three in the 16th over. 

Sathya Sandeepani (three for nine) and Kaveesha Dilhari (three for 20) then ran through the middle and lower orders, as Ireland lost six wickets for 18 runs to finish on 105 for nine.  

Gunaratne (53 not out) and Perera (53 not out) made light work of the chase, sharing an unbroken stand of 110 to seal victory with seven overs to spare. 

Fraser stars with bat and ball for Scotland 

Katherine Fraser took three for 10 and then struck 45 from 29 balls as Scotland beat PNG by seven wickets. 

PNG slipped to 29 for four in the eighth over, with Kirstie Gordon (two for 15) trapping captain Brenda Tau (2) lbw and Fraser removing Sibona Jimmy (8). 

Tanya Ruma (22) and Pauke Siaka (24) rebuilt with a stand of 44 for the fifth wicket, but Fraser dismissed Siaka and Hane Tau for a duck with successive balls as PNG were bowled out for 93. 

Fraser then hit seven fours and a six at the top of the order, before losing her wicket to Pauke Siaka’s bowling, leaving Scotland at 70 in the ninth over. 

Sarah Bryce (12 not out) and Pippa Sproul (11 not out) completed the chase with 41 balls to spare. 

Tuba sets up Pakistan victory 

Tuba Hassan claimed three for 26 as Pakistan restricted Bangladesh to 108 for nine before easing to an eight-wicket win in Group B. 

Bangladesh reached 52 for two before losing five wickets for 16 runs, with Tuba accounting for Sharmin Akter (9), Nigar Sultana Joty (27) and Ritu Moni (2). 

Nashra Sundhu was the most economical of the attack with two for 13, while Shorna Akter's unbeaten 21 lifted Bangladesh past 100. 

Shawaal Zulfiqar launched the reply with four fours in a six-ball 16, and Sadaf Shamas made 37 to take Pakistan to 68 for two at the halfway mark. 

Captain Muneeba Ali (31 not out) and Ayesha Zafar (27 not out) added an unbroken 44 to finish the job with 25 balls remaining. 

Siegers leads the Netherlands in tense chase 

The Netherlands reached their target of 137 with three balls to spare to beat Thailand by five wickets. 

Heather Siegers removed Phannita Maya in the first over, but Natthakan Chantham (55) and Nannapat Khoncharoenkai (54 not out) put on 91 for the second wicket as Thailand posted 136 for two. 

Siegers, who finished with two for 15, then made 42 from 28 balls in an opening stand of 78 with captain Babette De Leede (37). 

Thailand hit back with three wickets for two runs in the space of an over, and the Netherlands still needed 22 from 17 balls when Frederique Overdijk was stumped. 

Sterre Kalis held firm with 33 not out from 26 balls to see her side home. 

Scores in brief 

Sri Lanka v Ireland, Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground, Ajman, UAE 

Ireland 105/9 in 20 overs (Louise Little 28, Amy Hunter 21; Sathya Sandeepani 3/9, Kaveesha Dilhari 3/20) 

Sri Lanka 110/0 in 13 overs (Vishmi Gunaratne 53 not out, Hasini Perera 53 not out) 

Result: Sri Lanka win by 10 wickets 

Papua New Guinea v Scotland, Seven Districts Sports Club, Ajman, UAE 

Papua New Guinea 93 all out in 20 overs (Pauke Siaka 24, Tanya Ruma 22; Katherine Fraser 3/10, Kirstie Gordon 2/15) 

Scotland 95/3 in 13.1 overs (Katherine Fraser 45, Kathryn Bryce 14; Hane Tau 1/8, Pauke Siaka 1/16) 

Result: Scotland win by seven wickets 

Pakistan v Bangladesh, Karwan Sports Club Cricket Ground, Ajman, UAE 

Bangladesh 108/9 in 20 overs (Nigar Sultana 27, Shorna Akter 21 not out; Tuba Hassan 3/26, Nashra Sundhu 2/13) 

Pakistan 112/2 in 15.5 overs (Sadaf Shamas 37, Muneeba Ali 31 not out; Sobhana Mostary 1/4, Shorna Akter 1/15) 

Result: Pakistan win by eight wickets 

Netherlands v Thailand, Seven Districts Sports Club, Ajman, UAE 

Thailand 136/2 in 20 overs (Natthakan Chantham 55, Nannapat Khoncharoenkai 54 not out; Heather Siegers 2/15) 

Netherlands 137/5 in 19.3 overs (Heather Siegers 42, Babette De Leede 37; Sunida Chaturongrattana 2/26, Suleeporn Laomi 1/25) 

Result: Netherlands win by five wickets 

ENDS