The visitors, Ireland, bounced back with a convincing 12-run victory in the 1st T20I to go 1-0 up in the 3-match series after a disappointing show in the 3-match ODI series.
Laura Delany’s cameo takes Ireland to a respectable total
Ireland skipper Gaby Lewis won the toss and opted to bat first at Sylhet in the 2nd T20I of the series. Openers wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter and skipper Gaby Lewis got their side off to a steady start with a 34-run opening partnership. Nahida Akter picked up the big wicket of the opposition skipper on the penultimate ball of the powerplay to provide the first breakthrough for the home side. Jannatul Ferdus then sent wicket-keeper batter Amy Hunter (23 off 23 balls) back to the pavilion to provide the 2nd breakthrough for her side.
A crucial 27-run partnership between Orla Prendergast and Leah Paul for the 3rd wicket kept the scoreboard ticking, while also maintaining the momentum of the innings for the visitors. Nahida Akter returned and picked up the wicket of Orla Prendergast (32 off 25 balls) to provide the crucial breakthrough for Bangladesh. Another crucial 32-run partnership between Laura Delany (35 off 25 balls) and Leah Paul (16 off 19 balls) for the 4th wicket took their side past the 100-run mark.
Leah Paul was dismissed by the veteran pacer Jahanara Alam to provide the 4th breakthrough for Bangladesh. The visitors, Ireland, eventually ended up posting a competitive total of 134/5 in their quota of 20 overs. Nahida Akter (4-0-20-2), Jahanara Alam (4-0-25-1), and Jannatul Ferdus (4-1-29-1) were the stand-out performers with the ball for Bangladesh.
A disciplined bowling efforts helps Ireland claim a thumping series win
Chasing a total of 135, Bangladesh was bundled out for just 87, as a result, falling 47 runs short of the target with 17 balls to spare. The 48-run 5th wicket partnership between Shorna Akter (20 off 21 balls) and Sharmin Akhter (38 off 43 balls) was the highest partnership of the run chase for the home side. The pair were also the stand-out performers with the bat for Bangladesh as apart from this duo, only Dilara Akter (10 off 10 balls) managed to enter into the double digits.
Orla Prendergast (3.1-0-13-3), Arlene Kelly (3-0-10-2), Laura Delany (3-0-16-2), and Freya Sargent (4-0-21-0) were the top performers with the ball for Ireland.
Orla Prendergast was awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational all-round show, scoring 32 off 25 balls and returning with exceptional match figures of 3.1-0-13-3 in her spell with the ball. She, alongside former skipper Laura Delany, played a crucial role in helping their side clinch the three-match T20I series with one game to go, registering their maiden series-win in Bangladesh.
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