Leah Paul and Gaby Lewis starred with the bat in Kathmandu as Ireland beat the USA by 16 runs to move a step closer to qualifying for their T20 World Cup.

Again the margin of victory wasn’t as great as might have been expected but captain Lewis’s side were always comfortable as they had been in beating Papua New Guinea in their opener on Monday.

Paul and Lewis added 77 for the third wicket and after the skipper fell for 42 for the second time in as many games, her partner went on to make 67 from 52 balls which was the top score in a total of 154-7.

Ava Canning and Aimee Maguire claimed two wickets each but Arlene Kelly took the bowling honours for the Girls in Green with 4-20 as the US were pegged to 138-8 in reply.