Leah Paul Explained

Leah Paul (born 10 September 1999) is an Irish cricketer. She plays international cricket for Ireland and domestic cricket in the Women's Super Series for the Scorchers.

International Career

Paul made her Women's One Day International (WODI) debut for Ireland against India in the 2017 South Africa Quadrangular Series.^[1] In November 2018, she was named the Female Youth International Player of the Year at the annual Cricket Ireland Awards.^[2]

In May 2019, she was named in Ireland's Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) squad for their series against the West Indies, but she did not play.^{[3] [4]} In August 2019, she was again named in the Irish WT20I squad for the 2019 Netherlands Women's Quadrangular Series.^[5] She made her WT20I debut for Ireland, against the Netherlands, on 8 August 2019.^[6]

In August 2019, she was named in Ireland's squad for the 2019 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament in Scotland.^[7] She would have a good tournament with the ball, finishing as Ireland's second highest wicket taker with 6,^[8] however Ireland failed to qualify for the 2020 Women's T20 World Cup after losing to Bangladesh in the semi-final.^[9]

In July 2020, she was awarded a non-retainer contract by Cricket Ireland (CI) for the following year.^[10]

In November 2021, she was named in Ireland's team for the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe.^[11] She played both of Ireland's games before the tournament was abandoned due to an outbreak of COVID-19, Ireland did not qualify for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup with places being decided by ICC Rankings.^[12]

Paul was offered a Part Time Education by CI in March 2022 to allow her continue her studies in Trinity College, Dublin.^[13] Later that year she would be named Sport Person of the Year at the Trinity Sports Awards.^[14]

In June she was named Player of the Match for her 47 and 1/21 in Ireland's victory over South Africa at Pembroke, it was the first time she opened the batting in WT20Is.^[15]

She would make her highest international score in August of that year during Ireland Women's tour to the Netherlands. In the 2nd WODI she made 137 opening the batting, putting on a record Irish WODI partnership of 236 with Laura Delany who made 109. It remains the 2nd highest 3rd wicket partnership in WODIs.^[16] Ireland scored their highest WODI score with 337/8 with the margin of victory of 210 runs also being an Irish record.^{[17] [18]}

In 2024 she was elevated to a full-time professional contract by CI.^[19]

In the 2nd WODI of Sri Lanka's tour of Ireland in August 2024 Paul made 81(101) to top score for Ireland as they beat the visitors by 15 runs at Stormont to achieve their first WODI series victory over Sri Lanka.^[20]

She was named in the Ireland squad for their T20I and ODI tour to Bangladesh in November 2024.^{[21] [22]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Women's Quadrangular Series (in South Africa), 2nd Match: India Women v Ireland Women at Potchefstroom (Uni), May 7, 2017 . 7 May 2017 . ESPN Cricinfo.
2. Web site: Murtagh, Delany take out top player awards at 2018 Turkish Airlines Cricket Ireland Awards . Cricket Ireland . 7 November 2018.
3. Web site: Ireland Women receive first ever part-time professional contracts . ESPN Cricinfo . 7 May 2019.
4. Web site: Ireland Women's squad announced for West Indies series . Cricket Ireland . 7 May 2019.
5. Web site: Women's Squad Quadrangular T20I Tournament . Royal Dutch Cricket Association . 6 August 2019.
6. Web site: 1st Match, Women's T20I Quadrangular Series (in Netherlands) at Deventer, Aug 8 2019 . ESPN Cricinfo . 8 August 2019.
7. Web site: Match official appointments and squads announced for ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 . International Cricket Council . 21 August 2019.
8. Web site: ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier, 2019 bowling most wickets career Records . 2024-09-23 . ESPNcricinfo . en.
9. Web site: Thailand, Bangladesh qualify for 2020 Women's T20 World Cup . 2024-09-23 . ESPNcricinfo . en.
10. Web site: Cricket Ireland award new set of women's contracts . ESPN Cricinfo . 1 July 2020.
11. Web site: Ireland squad announced for Women's World Cup Qualifier; amendments made to tournament schedule . Cricket Ireland . 12 November 2021.
12. Web site: Women's World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe called off following concerns over new Covid-19 variant . 2024-09-23 . ESPNcricinfo . en.
13. Web site: Cricket Ireland confirms first professional women’s contracts . 2024-09-23 . The Irish Times . en.
14. Web site: Wolfe . David . 2022-05-10 . Cricketer Leah Paul named Sport Person of the Year at Trinity Sports Awards . 2024-09-23 . Trinity News . en-US.
15. Web site: Gaby Lewis leads from the front as Ireland secure upset win over South Africa . 2024-09-23 . ESPNcricinfo . en.
16. Web site: Partnership records Women's One-Day Internationals Cricinfo Statsguru ESPNcricinfo.com . 2024-09-23 . Cricinfo.
17. Web site: Women ODI matches Team records Largest margin of victory (by runs) . 2024-09-23 . ESPNcricinfo . en.
18. News: 2022-08-24 . Netherlands v Ireland: Leah Paul & Laura Delany hit centuries as Irish win ODI series . 2024-09-23 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
19. Web site: Easdown . Craig . 2024-06-04 . Central contracts announced for 2024-25 . 2024-09-23 . Cricket Ireland . en-US.
20. Web site: Ireland go 2-0 up despite Harshitha Samarawickrama century . 2024-09-23 . ESPNcricinfo . en.
21. Web site: Ireland name squad for Bangladesh series. Cricket Europe. 27 November 2024.
22. Web site: Young Ireland squad named for Bangladesh tour. International Cricket Council. 27 November 2024.