Fifties from Fargana Hoque (61 off 110 balls) and Sharmin Akhter (96 off 89 balls) played a crucial role in helping Bangladesh-led by skipper Nigar Sultana Joty to go 1-0 up in the three-match ODI series.
Wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter’s half-century pushes Ireland to 193/6
Ireland lost their skipper Gaby Lewis in the 4th over of the innings after she won the toss and opted to bat first. Sultana Khatun provided the first breakthrough for Bangladesh. The visitors lost Sarah Forbes in the 11th over of the innings. Orla Prendergast joined wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter at the crease and the duo steadied the ship with a 91-run 3rd wicket partnership to take their side closer to the 130-run mark.
Just when the pair were about to step on the accelerator, Ireland lost both their set batters in the 35th over of the innings. The visitors eventually managed to get closer to the 200-run mark as they posted a total of 193/6 in their quota of 50 overs. Wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter (68 off 88 balls), Orla Prendergast (37 off 72 balls), Laura Delany (33 off 50 balls), and Una Raymond-Hoey (21* off 18 balls) were the key contributors with the bat for Ireland.
Sultana Khatun (10-1-32-2), Nahida Akter (10-1-32-1), Rabeya Khan (10-42-0), and Shorna Akter (4-0-6-1) were the star performers with the ball for her side.
Fargana Hoque’s half-century guides Bangladesh to an ODI series victory
Chasing a target of 194, Bangladesh lost the wicket of the opening batter Murshida Khatun in the 5th over of the run chase. Orla Prendergast provided the first scalp for the visitors. Sharmin Akhter joined Fargana Hoque at the crease and the duo took the home side in a comfortable position in the run chase with an 85-run 2nd wicket partnership.
The opening batter Fargana Hoque completed her well-deserved half-century (50 off 89 balls) before getting dismissed to Laura Delany in the 28th over of the run chase. Bangladesh eventually crawled over the line with five wickets in hand and 37 balls to spare to seal the game and the ODI series in a convincing fashion. Sharmin Akhter (43 off 63 balls), skipper Nigar Sultana Joty (40 off 39 balls), and Shorna Akter (29* off 29 balls) were the crucial contributors with the bat for Bangladesh.
Laura Delany (6.5-0-43-2), Arlene Kelly (9-0-34-1), Orla Prendergast (4-1-10-1), and Ava Canning (7-0-22-1), were the stand-out performers with the ball for Ireland, as they managed to make the home side toil hard for their victory. Skipper Nigar Sultana Joty (40 off 39 balls) was awarded the Player of the Match.
Loves all things female cricket
