Sports Desk

Bangladesh women’s team clinched the three-match ODI series against Ireland keeping a match in hand as they beat the visitors by five wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing 194, the trio of Fargana Haque, Sharmin Akhter Supta and skipper Nigar Sultana took the hosts home in 43.5 overs.

The hosts lost Murshida Khatun (6) early in their chase but Fargana and Sharmin built a 85-run partnership to take Tigresses out of trouble. Fargana departed for 50 while Sharmin (43) soon followed her, missing her half-century by seven runs.

But skipper Nigar took the responsibilities to her own shoulders and guided the team home with a quickfire innings of 40 off 39 balls. She hit a maximum and four boundaries during her innings.

Nigar was ably supported by Sobhana Mostary (16) and Shorna Akter (29*) to seal the victory.

For Ireland, Laura Delany bagged a brace while Orla Prendergast, Ava Canning and Arlene Kelly picked up a wicket each.

Earlier, Ireland scored 193/6 in their stipulated 50 overs after electing to bat first. They lost their openers - Sarah Forbes (13) and skipper Gaby Lewis (2) - early in the innings.

But Amy Hunter and Orla Prendergast built a 91-run partnership for the third wicket.

Orla bagged 37 off 72 balls hitting two boundaries while Amy top scored for the visitors with 68 to her name. She hit eight boundaries during her innings. Both of them departed in the 35th over and Ireland couldn’t accelerate their innings in the latter part as they would have wanted to.

Laura Delaney scored 33 to take the visitors to 193/6 before getting run out in the final over. Una RaymondHoey remained unbeaten after scoring a quickfire 21.

For Bangladesh, Sultana Khatun bagged a brace while Nahida Akter and Shorna Akter picked up a wicket each.