Banglapress online: Asian champions Bangladesh women’s cricket team lived up to the high expectations as they put up brilliant performance to win the three-match T20 series beating hosts Ireland by four wickets in 2nd T20 match held on Friday at Dublin, Ireland.
Chasing a winning target of 125 runs set by Ireland, The Asian champions reached home in 19.1 overs with four wickets in hand.
Opener Shamima Sultana and Fargana Haque led the Bangladesh’s chase contributing 75-run for the second wicket stand after Bangladesh lost their opener Ayesha Rahman (7) early.
Shamima played an impressive 51-run off 49 balls that studded with nine boundaries before she fell to Richardson while Fargana supported her with a well composed 34-ball off 36 that studded with three boundaries and one over boundary.
After the departure of two set batsmen, Bangladesh suffered little wobble losing three quick wickets but Sanjida Islam (11 n.o) and Jahanara Alam (1 n.o) ensured Tigresses’ victory to remain unbeaten till the end of the innings.
Laura Delany and Ciara Metcalfe shared two Bangladesh’s wickets each conceding 26 and 21 runs respectively.
Earlier, batting first after winning the important toss, Ireland rode on their opener Cecelia Joyce’s polish half century, posted a decent total of 124 for 8 from their allotted 20 overs.
Joyce, the top scorer of Ireland innings, blasted 47-ball off 60 runs hitting six boundaries and one over boundary and during the process he also shared an important 63-runs third wicket stand with her skipper Laura Delany who added useful 20 runs, after the early batting jolt.
Joyce eventually backed to the pavilion after giving a return catch to Fahima Khatun. Shauna Kavanagh (15) was the other Ireland batter able to reach the double digit figure. Jahanar Alam and Nahida Akter were the most successful bowlers as the duo shared two Ireland wickets conceding 15 and 18 runs respectively.
The third and final T20 between the two sides will be held on Sunday (July 1) at the same venue. Earlier on Thursday, Bangladesh beat Ireland by four-wicket in the nail-biting first T20 match.
Banglapress/FS
