All-rounders Orla Prendergast and Laura Delany were the stars of the show when the visitors sealed the T20I series with a comprehensive 47-run margin in the 2nd T20I.
For the 3rd T20I, the home side, Bangladesh, made three changes with Murshida Khatun, Ritu Moni, and Rabeya Khan coming in for Dilara Akter, Taj Nehar, and Fahima Khatun. On the other hand, Ireland made just one change with wicket-keeper batter Christina Coulter Reilly replacing Sarah Forbes in their playing 11.
Orla Prendergast’s career-best figures restrict Bangladesh to 123/7
Bangladesh openers Murshida Khatun and Sobhana Mostary got their side off to a flying start with a 33-run opening partnership at a rate of over 8 runs an over, after the opposition skipper Gaby Lewis won the toss and opted to field first. Orla Prendergast picked up the wicket of Murshida Khatun to provide the first breakthrough for Ireland.
Sharmin Akhter partnered with the opening batter Sobhana Mostary and the duo carried the momentum forward with another crucial 71-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to take their side past the 100-run mark. Aimee Maguire picked up the wicket of Sharmin Akhter to provide the much-needed 2nd breakthrough for her side. The home side eventually ended up with a total of 123/7 in their quota of 20 overs.
Bangladesh’s top three Sobhana Mostary (45 off 43 balls), Sharmin Akhter (34 off 33 balls), and Murshida Khatun (12 off 12 balls) played a significant part, contributing around 74% of the team’s total. Orla Prendergast (4-0-22-4) returned with her career-best figures in the T20I format. Aimee Maguire (4-0-25-2), Arlene Kelly (4-0-18-0), and Freya Sargent (4-0-21-0) provided good support in restricting the run-flow of the opposition batters.
Laura Delany holds her nerve to guide Ireland to a comprehensive whitewash
The Ireland openers, Amy Hunter and skipper Gaby Lewis got their side off to a positive start with a 55-run opening stand. Jannatul Ferdus picked up the wicket of Amy Hunter (28 off 24 balls) to provide the much-needed first breakthrough for Bangladesh. Ireland suffered a mini collapse as they lost their next three wickets for just 15 runs.
Rebecca Stokell joined Laura Delany at the crease and the duo stitched a much-needed 33-run partnership for the 5th wicket to take their side past the 100-run mark. Nahida Akter cleaned up Rebecca Stokell (19 off 22 balls) to provide the 5th breakthrough for Bangladesh. Former skipper Laura Delany (36* off 31 balls) hung in there, kept her calm to guide her side over the line with four wickets in hand and one ball to spare. Rabeya Khan (4-0-17-2), Nahida Akter (4-0-26-1), Jannatul Ferdus (3-0-19-1), and Sanjida Akter Meghla (4-0-21-0) were the positives with the ball for Bangladesh.
Laura Delany was awarded the Player of the Match for guiding her side over the line (36* off 31 balls) as Ireland bounced back in style from a disappointing show in the ODI format to whitewash hosts Bangladesh in the T20I series (3-0). Orla Prendergast was awarded the Player of the Series for scoring 54 runs and picking up as many as 10 wickets for Ireland in the 3-match T20I series.
Loves all things female cricket
