Bangladesh Women Seal ODI Series Win Against Ireland with a 5-Wicket Victory

Bangladesh women’s cricket team secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against Ireland, winning the second match by 5 wickets with 37 balls to spare. The win came after they chased down a target of 194 runs set by Ireland.

In the first ODI, Bangladesh won by 154 runs, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. In the second match at Mirpur, Ireland batted first and scored 193/6 in their allotted 50 overs. Bangladesh then comfortably chased down the target, ensuring the series victory with one match still to go.

Match Summary: Ireland won the toss and opted to bat first. Bangladesh’s opening bowlers, Sultana Khatun and Nahida Akter, made early breakthroughs. Khatun dismissed Ireland's opener Gaby Lewis for 2 in the fourth over, and Akter, in her very first delivery, removed Amy Hunter, the wicketkeeper-batter, for 68 runs in the 11th over.

Sultana Khatun was the most successful bowler for Bangladesh, taking 2 wickets for 32 runs in her 10-over spell. Nahida Akter also bowled a tight spell, claiming 1 wicket for 32 runs in 10 overs. Another wicket came from Shorna Akter.

In response, Bangladesh lost an early wicket when opener Murshida Khatun was dismissed for just 6 runs off 14 balls. However, Farzana Haque Pinki and Sharmin Sultana formed an 85-run partnership for the second wicket. Farzana, who had narrowly missed a century in the first match, made another vital contribution with 50 runs before being dismissed by Laura Delany.

Sharmin Sultana, who was dismissed for 43 runs, also played an important knock, while captain Nigar Sultana Jyoti chipped in with a quick-fire 40 runs off 39 balls, hitting 4 boundaries and 1 six. Subahana Mostari contributed 16 runs before she was dismissed.

In the final stages, Shorna Akter played a crucial role, scoring an unbeaten 29 runs to guide Bangladesh to victory. Fahima Khatun was at the other end, remaining not out on 4 runs.

With this victory, Bangladesh sealed the series and will look to complete a clean sweep in the final match.