Women’s T20 World Cup: Bangladesh beat Ireland in warm-up match

Bangladesh had beaten Ireland in an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifier. Now, at the beginning of the warm-up matches, they beat the Irish team again ahead of the World Cup.

Bangladesh won the match by six wickets. The team reached their 84-run target with 32 balls in hand at the Guyana National Stadium in South America.

Pacer Jahanara Alam gave Bangladesh the first breakthrough after starting winning the toss and choosing to field. Salma Khatun could do little with the ball, but spinners Rumana Ahmed and Khadija Tul Kubra kept up the pressure. By the ninth over, Ireland were at 26/5.   

But Kim Garth’s performance with the bat and ball helped her team to play the full 20 overs. She scored 35 runs before she was bowled by Bangladeshi pacer Jahanara.

Jahanara ended the innings two wickets but the Irish were most susceptible to Rumana’s leg spin. She picked up three wickets for 10 runs. Off-spinner Kubra took one wicket for 13 runs.

Bangladesh’s openers got them off to a great start, scoring 37 runs from the first six overs. Ayasha Rahman bagged most of the runs.  

Her partner, Shamima Sultana scored nine before she was dismissed. But Garth's superb bowling saw Ireland claim four wickets in just seven balls to reduce Bangladesh to 38-4.

But the partnership of Sanjida Islam and Farzana Hoque, each of whom scored in the twenties, brought the game home for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh will play another warm-up match against Pakistan on Tuesday.

Scorecard:

Ireland: 84/7, 20 overs (Garth 35, Lewis, 15, Kavanagh, 10, Richardson, 10*, Jahanara 3-0-11-2, Salma 4-0-20-0, Rumana 4-1-10-3, Kubra 4- 0-13-1, Fahima 3-0-15-0, Lata 2-0-13-0)

Bangladesh:  86-4, 14.4 overs (Shamima, 9, Ayasha 25; Farjana 21*, Nigar 0, Rumana 0, Sanjida, 20*, Garth, 3/4)

Bangladesh won by 6 wickets