Dhaka, Jun 28 (Just News): Pacer Jahanara Alam’s record five-wicket haul set up a four-wicket win for Bangladesh national women’s cricket team over Ireland in the first match of the three-match Twenty20 international series at the YMCA Cricket Club in Dublin on Thursday.
Opting to bowl first, Bangladeshi bowlers restricted Ireland to 134-8 in 20 overs as Jahanara finished with 5-28, becoming the first ever Bangladeshi women to claim five wickets in a Twenty20 international.
Salma Khatun and Khadija tul Kubra picked one wicket each.
Batter Isobel Joyce scored highest 41 off 41 balls for Ireland while Gaby Lewis scored 28 off 16 deliveries.
In reply, 46 off 38 deliveries by batter Nigar Sultana and 24 off 23 balls by Ayasha Rahman took the match to the last over where Bangladesh needed four runs to grab the victory.
With Fahima Khatun on strike – Bangladeshi batters scored three runs in the first four deliveries off spinner Eimear Richardson before Sanjida Islam (five) ran herself out and left Bangladesh needing one run in the last delivery.
But Fahima didn’t make any hiccup guiding the final delivery into the leg-side to take Bangladesh to 135-6 in 20 overs.
Bangladesh women, who clinched the Women's Asia Cup T20I title by beating India earlier this month, will play their second match today at the Malahide Cricket Club Ground in Dublin.
(Justnews/ys/1314hr)
